CPhA Welcomes Health Ministers’ Commitments to Improve Drug Access
January 21, 2016 (Ottawa): The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) welcomes the move by provincial and territorial health ministers to form a working group to improve access to prescription drugs. The announcement, made during the health ministers’ meeting in Vancouver, is an important step in the collaborative efforts between Canadian governments to ensure all Canadians have access to the medications and pharmacy services they need.
“We all share the same objectives of achieving better access to the medications and drug therapy services that Canadians need to be healthy, and this proposed working group is a significant step forward,” said Carlo Berardi, Chair, Canadian Pharmacists Association. “There are many models for a pan-Canadian drug program that can be considered and we believe it’s time for a frank and informed conversation about how we can improve access for those who either do not have coverage or whose coverage is inadequate to meet their health care needs.”
As front line health care professionals responsible for delivering medications to patients, pharmacists care first and foremost about the health and well-being of Canadians. That is why we are advocating for governments to consider a broad spectrum of options when it comes to pan-Canadian pharmacare to ensure Canadians have access to the medications and pharmacy services they need.
In addition to a preliminary report released earlier this week examining the costs associated with a universal pharmacare model, CPhA will be releasing a full report in the coming weeks that includes cost estimates for several additional proposed pharmacare models. These findings will inform an upcoming consensus conference and Pharmacare White Paper in the late spring.
CPhA also applauds the recent announcement by the federal government to partner with provinces and territories in the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA). This important partnership with the federal government will add to the significant work that the provinces and territories have completed through pCPA.
While it’s important that Canadians get fair value for health dollars when it comes to drug prices, we believe that even greater opportunities exist for health care system savings through optimal drug therapy, not only for reducing costs, but also for improving health outcomes.
Although CPhA is pleased with the federal government’s move to partner with provinces and territories on the pCPA, we urge governments to ensure that this newly formed working group has a broader mandate so it can also focus on improving the care Canadians receive. We need to consider solutions that prioritize patient needs and health outcomes and work towards the harmonization of prescription medication coverage and care for all Canadians.
About the Canadian Pharmacists Association
The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is the uniting national voice of pharmacy and the pharmacist profession in Canada. As pharmacists undertake an enhanced role in the delivery of health care services, CPhA ensures that the profession is recognized as a national leader in health care, influencing the policies, programs, budgets and initiatives affecting the profession and the health of Canadians. More information is available at www.pharmacists.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Mark McCondach
Director of Communications
Canadian Pharmacists Association
mmccondach@pharmacists.ca
(613) 523-7877 Ext. 285