Social Justice and Democracy

Canada’s unions welcome first steps on pharmacare

March 6, 2019

Canada’s unions welcome the interim report presented today by the federal Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare.

Its key recommendations begin to address the existing inefficiencies in an unfair system that leaves millions of Canadians unable to afford their prescriptions and grappling with the third highest drug prices in the world.

“The recommendations in today’s report have the potential to increase access and move to lower costs if implemented alongside a universal, national, public pharmacare program,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

The Advisory Council undertook extensive consultations with Canadians. Their findings confirm what studies and polls have clearly shown: the current system is broken and leaves too many Canadians without the coverage they need. More than 3.6 million Canadians cannot afford to fill their prescriptions, according to government estimates.

“The creation of a national drug agency and the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based national drug formulary are significant changes that will move Canada in the right direction,” said Yussuff. “Delivering this through a pharmacare model designed similarly to Medicare will ensure that everyone, no matter where they live, has access to the medications they need, as they do right now with hospitals and doctors,” he continued.

Over the past two years, the Canadian Labour Congress has been campaigning for a universal pharmacare plan. Over that time, 108,000 people have signed a petition, 26,000 emailed their Member of Parliament and nearly 14,000 made submissions to the Advisory Council urging for the adoption of a universal single-payer public model. This campaign is supported by recent public opinion polls that show 88% of Canadians support a single-payer universal pharmacare program.

“Canadians need a universal pharmacare system and Canada’s unions will be looking to the final report for a comprehensive blueprint for the implementation of a public universal model of pharmacare,” he continued.

  • Social Justice and Democracy
  • CANADA’S UNIONS CALL ON MPs TO PRIORITIZE WORKERS IN UPCOMING PARLIAMENTARY SESSION

    September 16, 2024
    Click to open the link
  • Social Justice and Democracy
  • Labour celebrating historic wins – but the fight is not over

    June 21, 2024
    Click to open the link
  • Social Justice and Democracy
  • Canada’s unions: workers have waited long enough to pass Bill C-64, An Act Respecting Pharmacare

    June 18, 2024
    Click to open the link
  • Social Justice and Democracy
  • One step closer to universal pharmacare for Canadians

    June 4, 2024
    Click to open the link
  • Workplace Health and Safety
  • On Injured Workers Day, Canada’s unions say: safe work now!

    May 31, 2024
    Click to open the link
  • Social Justice and Democracy
  • Statement from Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress on the news about NDP/Liberal negotiations on pharmacare:

    February 23, 2024
    Click to open the link
  • Social Justice and Democracy
  • Statement by Bea Bruske: Conservatives stand against workers

    February 7, 2024
    Click to open the link
  • Social Justice and Democracy
  • While governments talk, patients face endless waits and health workers are burning out

    January 18, 2024
    Click to open the link
  • Social Justice and Democracy
  • Canada’s unions welcome the expansion of Canadian Dental Care Plan

    December 11, 2023
    Click to open the link