C-64

Details

Full Title

An Act respecting pharmacare

First Reading

February 29, 2024, Parliament 44, Session 1

Type

House Government Bill

Full Content

https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-64

Summary

The Pharmacare Act (Bill C-64) aims to improve access to and affordability of prescription drugs and related products for all Canadians. It emphasizes collaboration between the federal government, provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders to work towards national universal pharmacare. The Act focuses on developing a national formulary of essential medicines and a bulk purchasing strategy to lower drug costs. It also requires the development of a pan-Canadian strategy for the appropriate use of prescription drugs. The Act establishes a committee of experts to provide recommendations on the operation and financing of a national pharmacare program.

Issues

Economy

• Inflation and Cost of Living

  The Pharmacare Act aims to reduce the financial burden of prescription drugs for Canadians. It seeks to improve the affordability of pharmaceutical products by reducing financial barriers through universal coverage.

• Spending

  The Act includes a commitment from the Government of Canada to maintain long-term funding for provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples to improve access to and affordability of pharmaceutical products, starting with drugs for rare diseases. Payments will be made to provinces and territories through agreements to increase existing public pharmacare coverage for specific prescription drugs such as those intended for contraception and diabetes.

Social Services

• Healthcare

  The main focus of the Pharmacare Act is to improve access to prescription drugs and related healthcare products for all Canadians. It aims to create a universal pharmacare program that ensures everyone can afford the medicines they need. The Act also emphasizes the importance of using drugs appropriately to improve health outcomes and make the healthcare system more sustainable.

Social Justice

• Reconciliation

  The Act recognizes the role of Indigenous peoples in the provision of health care and the importance of collaboration with them to improve access to and affordability of prescription drugs. It includes a commitment to maintaining long-term funding for Indigenous peoples to improve the accessibility and affordability of pharmaceutical products.

• Income Inequality and Poverty

  The Pharmacare Act addresses income inequality and poverty by seeking to reduce financial barriers to prescription drugs for all Canadians, especially those who cannot afford them. The Act aims to ensure that all Canadians have access to necessary medications, regardless of their income.

• Reproductive Rights

  The Act specifically mentions providing universal, single-payer, first-dollar coverage for prescription drugs and related products intended for contraception. This aims to improve access to contraception for all individuals.