The Act respecting prescription drug insurance, the first phase of a plan which aims to adopt a national and universal prescription drug insurance plan in Canada, came into force on Thursday.
“Our plan for universal access to contraceptives marks a significant step forward towards reproductive freedom and choice. Additionally, ensuring access to diabetes medications represents a significant step toward improving health outcomes and equity in Canada,” said Mark Holland, Minister of Health.
This law, which received royal assent on Thursday, includes universal access to contraceptives and diabetes medications.
“The Minister of Health will continue to work with provinces and territories to reach bilateral agreements to provide universal, single-payer, first-dollar coverage for a range of contraceptives and diabetes medications, as part of the first phase of a national and universal drug insurance plan,” confirmed Health Canada in a press release.
These agreements aim to support the “reproductive freedom” of more than 9 million people and to grant more than 3.7 million diabetics universal access to several medications reducing the risks of serious complications.
These agreements will support reproductive freedom by providing free access to contraception to more than nine million women and gender diverse people in Canada. In addition, 3.7 million people living with diabetes in Canada will have universal access to a series of medications that reduce the risk of serious complications and improve their quality of life.
The Act also requires the Canadian Medicines Agency to create a list of essential drugs and related products to guide the development of a national list of insured drugs, to create a national bulk purchasing strategy to to further lower drug prices and create a pan-Canadian strategy regarding the appropriate use of prescription drugs.
In 2021, Statistics Canada found that one in five adults in Canada did not have the insurance necessary to reimburse the cost of their medications.
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