Pharmacists Call for Action on Drug Benefits

March 14, 2001 (Ottawa): Canada's pharmacists are calling on the federal government to act on its long overdue promise for a national, universal Pharmacare program in the wake of a study that shows one in five Canadians has inadequate or no drug insurance. The study was commissioned by the federal government and reported in Wednesday's Globe and Mail.

"That six million Canadians essentially lack this support for necessary prescription medications is unacceptable," says Ron Elliott, President-Elect of the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA). "We've been pushing for prescription drugs to be covered under Canada's Health Act as a medically necessary service for many years. We released a detailed discussion paper on the need for an integrated approach to pharmacare just over a year ago. As our population ages, it will become an increasingly pressing issue.

"With more Canadians entering their senior years, combined with shorter hospital stays, patients are being expected to use and pay for increasingly complex and expensive drug regimens to maintain their health," says Elliott. "As pharmacists, we see people on a daily basis who cannot afford the medication they've been prescribed, either because they do not have coverage, or because their share of the cost is more than they can afford. It neither makes sense, nor saves the system money, if these people can't take their medications and end up in, or return to, hospital."

The Canadian Pharmacists Association has long known there is inconsistency in the various levels of coverage Canadians experience from one province to the next, and continues to work with third party payers and governments to try and ensure adequate benefits.

"A universal program with national standards applied across the board would make the most sense from a health care delivery and cost perspective," concludes Elliott.

The Canadian Pharmacists Association is the national voluntary organization of pharmacists committed to providing leadership for the profession of pharmacy.

For more information:
Janet Bécigneul, Media Relations Manager
Tel: (613) 523-7877 or 800-917-9489 Ext. 267
Cell: (613) 296-8460
Fax: (613) 523-0445

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