More drug coverage is a slippery slope to want to be on
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
“Baby-steps” pharmacare a test of our humanity: columnist
“Private drug coverage is not universal or seamless, and will only continue as long as those companies are profitable… The final argument against what is otherwise a compassionate and affordable initiative from a reluctant federal government is that paying for medication for diabetics could be a slippery slope towards publicly-financed coverage for other medications that will save lives… But isn’t that a slope we want to be on?” wrote veteran political columnist Susan Riley in The Hill Times, March 12, 2024
CBC Radio call-in hears from citizens who support pharmacare
“Here it is, A Prescription for Canada. This positive health outcome will save billions of dollars annually. National Pharmacare’s time has come,” said Eric Hoskins, lead author, A Prescription for Canada, 2019.
“The federal government announcement (on February 29, 2024) represents a first step in the direction of single-payer public pharmacare,” said Hoskins on the CBC Radio call-in, March 7, 2024
Ontario Premier wants details, not ‘hokey pokey’
“I know Quebec and Alberta just immediately said no, but I’m always open to reviewing it and if it’s going to help the people of Ontario, I’m all in. . . “The feds have to give us more details. It was like, ‘We’re doing this and we’ll get to the details later,’ and that’s fine. I’m fine, but let’s see the details . . .We want a detailed plan, not a hokey-pokey one,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford to the Toronto Star, March 8, 2024
Canadians need a pharmacare plan that covers more than a handful of conditions
“As emergency physicians, we’re concerned that one in 10 people with chronic conditions sought emergency care because they could not pay for their prescriptions. More than a quarter of Canadians sacrifice food, shelter, utilities or their financial health due to drug costs. . . We must encourage our elected representatives – federal, provincial and territorial – to cover a comprehensive range of essential medications as soon as possible,” wrote Dr. Edward Xie, Toronto emergency physician, and Dr. Melanie Bechard, Ottawa pediatric emergency physician (both board directors of Canadian Doctors for Medicare), in the Toronto Star, March 6, 2024
Contraceptives as part of national pharmacare is a historic step
“As we do each year, we pause on International Women’s Day to recognize the incredible contributions of women in Canadian society, and more specifically, the healthcare and medical community. In that spirit of celebration, we hope all parties in Parliament can come together to ensure speedy passage of C-64 to allow women to have free access to contraceptives as soon as possible, given it is a key tool to help them take control of their own futures. After all, women’s healthcare is a non-partisan issue,” said Dr. Diane Francoeur, Chief Executive Officer, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist of Canada (SOGC), in a news release, March 8, 2024
Now it’s time for the dentists to sign up to the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
“Seniors who have been deemed eligible to the CDCP are starting to receive their personalized welcome package from Sun Life, which includes their member card, coverage start date and information on what they can expect from the CDCP, including details about how to make an appointment with a participating provider. We encourage Canadians who have an existing or preferred oral health provider to speak to them about their participation in the CDCP. Before receiving oral health care, people covered under the CDCP should always confirm with their oral health provider what costs, if any, will not be covered by the CDCP,” stated the Government of Canada Press Release, March 11, 2024
PEI health workers are the last to hear about plans
“A lot of eggs (are) being thrown into the basket. . . We’re looking at physician assistants, and associate physicians, we’re looking at midwives and internationally educated nurses and they’re all great ideas, but the unions have to be included because we have collective agreements… they have to be integrated into the system that’s already there now,” said Barbara Brookins, president of the P.E.I. Nurses’ Union, to CBC News, March 11, 2024
Job fair luring nurses away from Alberta
“This is happening in Alberta but I can’t see anyone from AHS or Calgary or surrounding area, no one is here to hire. Don’t we need nurses in Alberta? ” said nurse Shivani Sherme about Alberta recruiters being absent at a job fair in Calgary to CTV News, March 9, 2024
Budget watch in Québec
“It’s a budget that will reflect the work our government is doing to promote, on the one hand, the accessibility and quality of health care, and on the other, a subject I’m passionate about, the educational success of young people,” said Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard in The Montreal Gazette, March 11, 2024
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