By Harinder Mahil

The creation of a national universal pharmacare program by the end of 2023 is a condition of the House of Commons supply-and-confidence agreement between the Liberals and the federal NDP.

As the Trudeau government has not taken any steps to fulfill this promise, the NDP recently tabled legislation to establish a universal single-payer pharmacare system in Canada.

The NDP legislation also calls for the government to establish an independent drug agency to advise on which drugs should be insured and how prescriptions drugs should be used. It would also require the federal government to monitor the safety and effectiveness of drugs and to negotiate price and supply arrangements with drug manufacturers.

Second, the NDP wants to push back against the fierce opposition from the insurance and pharmaceutical industries which appears to be gaining traction with the federal government.

Research shows that nearly three million Canadian cannot afford to fill their  prescriptions because they cannot afford them. In a developed country like Canada no one should have to choose between paying for their medication and putting food on the table. It should be a universal right under the public health care system.

Canada is the only developed country with a universal health care system that does not provide universal prescription drug coverage.

Although many Canadians have insurance coverage for prescription drugs that coverage is extremely uneven. Even those that have insurance coverage face large deductibles and co-payments that make prescription drugs unaffordable. Private insurance plans through employers often exclude part-time workers who are more likely to be racialized or Indigenous thus increasing unfairness and inequality.

There have been numerous studies over the years that show how including medicines in our publicly funded system would improve access, improve health, reduce the need for hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and also save billions of dollars through lower prices. More importantly, a pharmacare plan will save lives.

The case for universal pharmacare is clear and has broad support from Canadians. I hope that Trudeau government will proceed with a pharmacare legislation sooner than later.

Harinder Mahil is a human rights activist and is secretary of the Dr. Hari Sharma Foundation