As you know, I am a strong supporter of National Pharmacare, our Government is taking crucial steps toward making this a reality.
We believe that no one in Canada should have to choose between paying for their rent or paying for the prescription drugs they need.
While we wait for the final report from the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare, Budget 2019 announces our intention to move forward on three foundational elements of National Pharmacare.
💊 Create the Canadian Drug Agency
It would assess the effectiveness of new prescription drugs and negotiate drug prices on behalf of Canada’s drug plans. By negotiating better prices, this could help lower the cost of drugs for Canadians by up to $3 billion per year in the long term.
💊 Take steps toward the development of a national formulary
It would be a comprehensive, evidence-based list of prescribed drugs. The Government will work in partnership with provinces, territories and stakeholders to develop this list, which would provide the basis for a consistent approach to formulary listing and patient access across the country.
💊 Establish a national strategy for high-cost drugs for rare diseases
This would help Canadians – many of whom are children – get better access to the effective treatments that they need. The Government will work with provinces, territories and other partners to co-develop a plan to ensure that patients with rare diseases have better and more consistent coverage for treatments.
