(CHAT News)

By Adrian St.Onge

NEW

Alberta organization advocating for national ‘pharmacare’ program as feds consider launch amid deadline

Feb 12, 2024 | 4:53 PM

An Alberta organization is in Ottawa this week to advocate for a national public “pharmacare” program the federal Liberal Party may propose in the coming weeks amid pressure from its New Democrat power-sharing partners.

Canada has the second highest cost of prescription medications, trailing only the United States. But the prospective plan could save as much as $5 billion annually according to the 2019 Hoskins Report.

Experts say full coverage would be necessary as partial coverage plans were rolled out in Quebec which has led to the cost of pharmaceuticals in the country.

Chris Galloway of Alberta’s Friends of Medicare, joining other organizations vying for a national pharmacare program in the capital, said pharmaceutical companies hold individual contracts with every province which allows them to dictate the prices.

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Under a public program, bulk purchasing of common drugs would allow for lower costs across the country for taxpayers and health systems.

Galloway said that implementing public programs is overdue and has universal support from health professionals and patients.

Further delaying legislation only benefits pharmaceutical and insurance companies, Galloway said.

“The only folks who are pushing against this legislation, and that we see really lobbying aggressively, are pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies,” he told CHAT News.

“They make a lot of money on the current fragmented system. Everyone else involved in healthcare supports a universal pharmacare system and has for decades.”

The federal government has until a March 1 deadline to table legislation for a public pharmaceutical program.

Otherwise, the ruling Liberals will risk a partnership with the NDP that has allowed the minority government to pass legislation.

The week-long initiative and rally in Ottawa will also call for expanding current healthcare programs and calls for more effective enforcement of the Canada Health Act.