A confidence-and-supply agreement between the NDP and the Liberal Party of Canada could come to an end if the Liberals don香蕉视频直播檛 agree on new legislation that would begin the process to create a universal pharmacare system.
The New Democrats gave the Liberal Party until March 1 to agree on the legislation, which would set the legal framework to a new, Canada-wide pharmacare plan, a policy the Liberals campaigned on in the 2019 election.
香蕉视频直播淪eniors that I香蕉视频直播檝e spoken to, in B.C., on [Vancouver Island], who are right now reeling with the high cost of groceries, rent and mortgage, they香蕉视频直播檙e saying, 香蕉视频直播楬ow do we budget given how expensive everything is?香蕉视频直播� They香蕉视频直播檙e also having to make really tough choices in their budgets between groceries or medication, and in a country that香蕉视频直播檚 as rich as ours that shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be a choice that a senior has to make,香蕉视频直播� said Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party.
According to a Statistics Canada survey from 2021, 21 per cent of Canadians reported not having insurance to cover medication costs. Canada is also the only country in the world with a national health-care system that does not provide universal coverage for prescription drugs.
Singh said although his party is only looking for the 香蕉视频直播渓egislation to set us up to be in a position to eventually get this done,香蕉视频直播� and is not requesting it to be included in this year香蕉视频直播檚 budget, the price calculated for the program would be 香蕉视频直播渏ust under $40 billion.香蕉视频直播� He called it a 香蕉视频直播渂ig investment,香蕉视频直播� but added that it would be offset by the long-term benefits.
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香蕉视频直播淸Universal pharmacare] would lower costs for provinces, territories, and the federal government, it would eventually lower the costs for medication for everyone,香蕉视频直播� he told the News Bulletin. 香蕉视频直播淚t would also mean for B.C., which already buys medication, you go to the hospital, the medications you receive, whether it香蕉视频直播檚 painkillers or antibiotics, it香蕉视频直播檚 covered, you don香蕉视频直播檛 have to pay for that. For the same amount of money that B.C. already spends on medications in the hospital or in other scenarios, this program would cover every single person in the province.香蕉视频直播�
The program would affect B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 life sciences and pharmaceuticals sector; however, Singh said the industry would remain 香蕉视频直播渉ighly profitable.香蕉视频直播� The federal government would be able to negotiate better prices and buy in bulk which would calm the current 香蕉视频直播渨ild west香蕉视频直播� of pharmaceutical pricing, and 香蕉视频直播渋nsurance companies and pharmaceutical companies wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be able to rip off Canadians in the way that they have been.香蕉视频直播�
Coming up to the given deadline, Singh said he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 know what香蕉视频直播檚 going to happen, and the 香蕉视频直播渂all is in the Liberals香蕉视频直播� court now.香蕉视频直播� He says the Liberals are currently on the side of 香蕉视频直播渂ig pharma香蕉视频直播� despite the research and a 2019 government-sponsored report that found 香蕉视频直播渢he best, most cost-effective, most efficient, best value for money香蕉视频直播� is universal pharmacare.
香蕉视频直播淎re they going to back up people, or are they going to back up their buddies in the in the pharmaceutical industry? I don香蕉视频直播檛 know, I guess we香蕉视频直播檒l have to see,香蕉视频直播� said Singh.
According to the Ministry of Health香蕉视频直播檚 2023-24 departmental plan, Health Canada has 香蕉视频直播渆ngaged extensively香蕉视频直播� since 2021 with provinces, territories and stakeholders on the potential scope and functions of a Canada Drug Agency as part of its work toward a Canada Pharmacare Act.
bailey.seymour@nanaimobulletin.com
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