Canada has the unique distinction of being the only country with universal public health care that doesn’t include prescription drug coverage. And as drug costs rise higher and higher, this missing piece of medicare becomes more and more of a problem.
It is time for many seniors in our country to not have to choose between taking their meds or eating. The escalating costs of drugs is not just, particularly for the many who may require the medications to live with dignity and to not just survive.
No other policy change and program can have the same kind of positive impact on the well-being of Canadians, while saving $14 billion or more annually, than universal pharmacare. The Council of Canadians has released a new report showing how universal pharmacare would save businesses money and improve Canada’s economic competitiveness. Replacing private drug plans with a universal pharmacare program would also save Canadian companies an estimated $8 billion annually.
It’s time for workers and companies to come together and demand national pharmacare.
June Ross, Nanaimo