Post by : Meena Ariff

NDP interim leader Don Davies has labeled the federal government's reaction to a recent pharmacare report as “shockingly dismissive,” calling for clarity on the program’s future.

Davies, instrumental in negotiating the Pharmacare Act last year, denounced the government's stance as politically insincere. The law, which was passed over a year ago as part of a supply-and-confidence agreement between the NDP and Liberals led by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, mandated the establishment of an expert committee to propose a universal, single-payer pharmacare system.

The committee presented its findings to Health Minister Marjorie Michel in October, with the report released to the public last month. It recommended that the federal government fully finance a list of essential medications covering over 90% of prescriptions, overseen by an independent entity, facilitating no-cost access for Canadians via their health cards.

Additionally, the report advocated for bypassing lengthy bilateral negotiations with provinces and territories, proposing legislation to formally enshrine the right to access essential medicines.

Upon inquiry about the implementation of these recommendations, Michel mentioned that the government is reviewing the report but did not commit to any definite actions. “Independent expert panels offer their insights, but these are non-binding for the government,” she noted, emphasizing that her responsibilities lie in negotiating with provincial entities rather than taking unilateral steps.

Davies criticized this stance, suggesting the government appears to have dismissed the report without a thorough evaluation. He pointed out that committee members and stakeholders have been unable to arrange a discussion with the health minister since the report was made public.

Committee chair Dr. Nav Persaud emphasized the growing importance of pharmacare due to international trade pressures that could affect jobs, insurance, and drug pricing. Amy Lamb, another committee member, described the report as a “nation-building investment” central to Canadian values.

Davies reiterated the need for the government to respect the Pharmacare Act by completing the initial phase, which entails negotiating agreements on contraceptives and select diabetes treatments. Currently, only four agreements—those with B.C., Manitoba, P.E.I., and Yukon—have been finalized, resulting in an inconsistent system that health advocates deem unfair.

“The government continues to position itself as an advocate for public access to medications, yet falters when meaningful progress is necessary,” said Davies.

Despite campaign pledges to support pharmacare initiatives, Prime Minister Mark Carney's inaugural budget revealed no new funding beyond the $1.5 billion allocated in 2024, most of which is already assigned to existing agreements. The committee estimates that financing an essential medications list would cost between $6–10 billion annually, but anticipates net costs around $3 billion thanks to savings from competitive procurement and current coverage.

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