Health Minister Mark Holland Unveils Pharmacare Plan Covering Diabetes and Contraception
In a long-anticipated move, Health Minister Mark Holland disclosed the details of the federal pharmacare plan (Bill C-64) on Thursday, signaling a commitment to include coverage for certain diabetes treatments and contraception. Pending parliamentary approval, Holland aims to initiate negotiations with provinces and territories to secure funding for providing these medications at no cost to individuals.
While expressing hope for program access within the year, Holland acknowledges uncertainties that make a specific start date challenging. The federal government plans to establish a fund supporting Canadian diabetics who struggle to afford syringes and glucose test strips, aiming to address the reported non-adherence to treatment plans due to cost concerns among one in four Canadians with diabetes.
The pharmacare plan, offering “first-dollar” coverage for drugs, is set to benefit diabetics significantly. Additionally, it aims to enhance reproductive autonomy for the nine million Canadians of reproductive age by providing better access to contraception, with the specific types yet to be determined.
The government envisions expanding pharmacare coverage beyond diabetes and contraception, proposing the creation of a national formulary and a bulk purchasing strategy. However, challenges lie ahead as some provinces express a desire to opt out or resist federal efforts.
As the plan unfolds, Holland emphasizes a step-by-step approach, evaluating the impact of the initial phase covering diabetes treatments and contraception before considering more extensive coverage models. The ultimate goal is “full coverage” to ensure affordability for all Canadians, although the high cost of a universal single-payer system poses a fiscal challenge.
While the cost of the initial phase remains uncertain, Holland estimates it to be around $1.5 billion, subject to negotiation outcomes with provinces and territories. The government’s commitment to pharmacare stems from months of negotiations with the NDP, emphasizing its importance in improving healthcare accessibility for Canadians. NDP MP Don Davies and Leader Jagmeet Singh express their satisfaction with the current progress and advocate for the implementation of a broader, universal pharmacare program.
