National Pharmacare: Who are the winners and losers?

The Canada Health Act includes public coverage of services provided in hospitals and by doctors, but not prescription medications taken outside of hospital. Most provincial drug plans do provide some public coverage, but many Canadians lack drug coverage.  

In the last 25 years, prescription medications have become both more important and more expensive. 

Bringing prescription medications into Medicare would produce winners and losers. Understanding who wins and who loses is crucial to understanding whether a national pharmacare program should be implemented.  These issuse are discussed in the article "National Pharmacare: Who are the winners and losers?" co-authored by PPRC Member Dr. Irfan Dhalla.