Pharmacare

It is no longer possible to pretend that a universal drug plan is too expensive. A ground-breaking new study (“The Economic Case for Pharmacare”) shows that a universal, public Pharmacare plan could cover all Canadians for prescription drugs, and save up to $10.7 billion - that’s 42% of the current cost.

The authors find that our current system is inefficient and wasteful. Using provincial and international comparisons, he shows how we could reduce our drug costs, including: eliminate inefficient and expensive private insurance plans, bring brand name drug prices into line with the international average, implement rigorous reviews for new drugs, and bargain lower drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies.

The Canadian Health Coalition, which commissioned the study, is now calling upon the federal government to take action. CEP President Dave Coles has also sent an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. (Dave Coles' Letter)