Health charities demand immediate pharmacare to combat prescription cost barriers in Canada
Last Valentine’s Day, Heart & Stroke and the Canadian Cancer Society urged the federal government to implement national pharmacare immediately.
A Leger poll revealed that nearly one in four Canadians (22 percent) have resorted to splitting pills, skipping doses, or not filling prescriptions due to cost.
Additionally, 10 percent of Canadians with chronic conditions have been forced into emergency rooms as their health deteriorated because they could not afford their medications.
Doug Roth, CEO of Heart & Stroke, highlighted the dire need for national pharmacare, pointing out the dangerous compromises many Canadians are forced to make without prescription drug coverage.
The poll also showed that 16 percent of Canadians lack adequate coverage, with 27 percent struggling to afford prescriptions. Furthermore, 28 percent have had to make tough choices, like cutting back on groceries or delaying payments, to afford their medication.
Andrea Seale, CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society, emphasized the financial burden of paying for lifesaving medications on top of other cancer-related costs. She stressed that no one should have to skip necessary medicines due to personal financial constraints.
The survey indicated strong public support for government responsibility in ensuring prescription drug coverage, with 82 percent of respondents in agreement. The 2019 Hoskins Report on pharmacare, which noted that 7.5 million Canadians lack sufficient drug insurance, was referenced as a basis for the urgent call for pharmacare legislation.
The organizations advocate for a phased introduction of pharmacare, starting with lifesaving, essential drugs to significantly save healthcare costs and prevent hospital visits. This approach, they argue, is not only fiscally responsible but also crucial for managing conditions cost-effectively, avoiding more severe health issues.
The call for pharmacare comes with a deadline, urging the federal government to introduce the necessary legislation by March 1.
This move is seen as vital to ensuring equitable access to prescription medicines for all Canadians, with a particular emphasis on managing the rising costs of cancer drugs and other specialized treatments.
