Pharmacare Reforms In Canada

Morgan, S. G., & Daw, J. R. (2012, August). Canadian pharmacare: Looking back, looking forward. Healthcare Policy, 8(1), 14–16. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3430151/

Today, Canada is the only industrialized nation without a national pharmacare plan (“Campaign for a National Drug Plan” 1). Currently, each province has its own pharmacare plan and this creates differences in medication prices across the nation. Price depends on drug efficacy, how commonly the drug is used, and to what extent the provincial government decides to subsidize the drug. Overall, drug coverage in Canada depends on a person’s age, income, and the province they live in. Today, one in ten Canadians cannot afford the medications that their doctors prescribe (“Pharmacare 2020” 2). Their lack of

In the first Hall Royal Commission, Pharmacare is outlined as recommend in joining the covered benefits for Canadian citizens - Canadians pays slightly less than their U.S. counterparts for Pharmaceuticals (Armstrong, p51). Privatization influences an unequal system - creating significant hindrances for impoverished people in Canada, again creating a rich-poor divide that does not influence equality, which is the essence of the Canadian Health Act. As pointed out in The Canadian Regime, “In European Countries, drugs are covered by public insurance schemes. Why not do the same in Canada?” (Malcolmson, p226). Further, Malcolmson describes the possibility for the government to generate a type of bulk buying scheme - where we as a country can

Health care expenditure accounted for an estimated 11% (214.9 billion) of Canada’s GDP in 2014 (CIHI, 2014). Canada boasts a universal, cost-effective and fair health care system to its citizens (Picard, 2010). However, despite great claims and large expenses incurred Canada’s health care system has been reported inefficient in it’s delivery to the population (Davis, Schoen, & Stremikis, 2010; Picard, 2010). As inconsistencies exist in health care delivery across the country, choosing priorities for the health of the Canadian people becomes of vital importance. In Ontario, progress toward a better health care system has been stated to be moving forward by putting the needs of the “patient’s first” (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care [MOHLTC], 2015). This policy brief will give a background of health care issues in Canada related to Ontario. Three evidence-based priorities will be suggested for Ontario’s health policy agenda for the next three to five years. Furthermore, through a critical analysis of these issues a recommendation of the top priority issue for the agenda will be presented.

Kirby and Romanow support the creation of a national drug formulary to give equal drug access to all Canadians. Currently, each province and territory has its own list of drugs covered under the provincial drug plan called a formulary. Due to this varying range of drugs, many provinces and territories face powerful lobbyist groups and pharmaceutical companies that push to have their drug of interest placed on that formulary. The provincial governments also face a ‘log rolling’ effect; meaning when a drug is approved in another province, the other provinces feel increased pressure to then approve that drug as well. Kirby (2002) describes the process for drug companies and lobbyist groups to get their drug of choice on a provincial formulary as being long and arduous.

This paper will discuss the Canadian healthcare system compared to the United States healthcare system. Although they’re close in proximity, these two nations have very different health care systems. Each healthcare system has its own difficulties, and is currently trying to find ways to improve. Canada currently uses the Universal Health Care system; which provides healthcare coverage to all Canadian citizens (Canadian Health Care, 2007). The services are executed on both a territorial and provincial basis, by staying within the guidelines that have been enforced by the federal government (Canadian Health Care, 2007).

The Canada Healthcare act [R.S. 1985, c. C-6] passed in 1984. It ensures that all residents of Canada have an equal access to necessary physician services, no extra billing from physicians and hospital. The act is on five main principles, Public administration necessary services are to offer on a non-profit basis. Next, accessibility coverage with no extra charges and comprehensiveness coverage for all medically necessary services at all times. Portability coverage is to extend to all residents in all provinces and territories. The fifth principle is universality coverage for all eligible residents of all provinces and territories (SEDAP, 2007).

Most Canadians are very proud of their health care because it provides citizens universal coverage on the basis of need. However, in the recent decade, Canadians have observed obvious deterioration in the quality of the system in regards to waiting times, availability of the best technology, and adequate numbers of doctors and nurses. The apparent decline within the system has made many Canadians more open to a variety of options than they were a decade ago, provided that the core elements of the system are preserved and that these changes lead to tangible improvements in quality without damaging accessibility. In the article Canadians’ Thoughts on Their Health Care System: Preserving the Canadian Model through Innovation by Matthew Mendelsohn, he stated that 1/3 of Canadians support the two-tiered healthcare system, which offers its citizens an option of public or private health care. Canada will benefit from a two-tier health care system because it will shorten waiting times, other countries with two-tier healthcare have proven to be successful, will encourage doctors to return and stay in Canada, introduce competition and give citizens freedom to choose.

     In the past, Canada’s government-funded, universally accessible, health care system has been praised and admired both at home and abroad as one of the finest in the world. A great source of pride and comfort for many Canadians is that it is based on five fundamental principles. Principles that are a reflection of the values held by Canadian citizens since the formation of Medicare in 1966. These principles were reinforced in the Canada Health Act, (CHA), of 1984 and state that the Canadian system is universal, accessible, portable, comprehensive and non-profit.

In order to sustain the health care system, the Canadian government needs to strategically plan for the years ahead and invest more in preventative care rather than curative care. Canada should enforce non-medical health policies which are not only going to promise healthy living for

In Canada, drug spending is considered to be the second largest spending category of healthcare ("Protecting Canadians from Excessive Drug Prices", 2017). Ever since Medicare was established in Canada, health expensive has increased to about 16% ("Protecting Canadians from Excessive Drug Prices", 2017). Canada is found to pay way more on prescription drugs than compared to other developed countries ("Protecting Canadians from Excessive Drug Prices", 2017). Not only does the high expense affect the consumer, but it also limits the access to creating new medicines as well as having less resource in other areas in the healthcare field ("Protecting Canadians from Excessive Drug Prices", 2017). As of January 2016, the provincial, federal, and territorial ministers have planned to work together in order to improve the accessibility, affordability, and

Canada’s health care system “can be described as a publicly-funded, privately-provided, universal, comprehensive, affordable, single-payer, provincially administered national health care system” (Bernard, 1992, p.103). Health care in Canada is provincial responsibility, with the Canada Health act being a federal legislation (Bernard, 1992, p. 102). Federal budget cuts, has caused various problems within Medicare such as increased waiting times and lack of new technology. Another problem with Medicare is that The Canada Heath Act does not cover expenditures for prescriptions drugs. All these issue has caused individuals to suggest making Medicare privatized. Although, Canada’s health care system consists of shortcomings, our universal

My ideal healthcare in Canada would be about shorter wait times in the emergency department, and National Pharmacare for prescription drugs for all Canadians. The universal healthcare system does not includes universal coverage of prescription drugs (Morgan et al., 2017). According to one study, one in four Canadians can not afford their prescription medications (Mulholland, 2012). Researchers also found that many Canadians do not fill their prescriptions due to cost and the fact that do not have insurance to cover the cost of medications (Mulholland, 2012). When patient do not fill their prescription, they keep going to the emergency department with same problems and which cost a lot more than free medications (Stanbrook, 2015). Universal

Healthcare systems and policies are the organizational frameworks that reflect and support the health goals of populations to optimize patient care. The Canadian Health Care System has a long history of improving and refining existing legislations in order to meet the dynamic needs of the population. However, a current and notable barrier to access healthcare resources for individuals is drug costs, with 22% of total Canadian prescription drug costs being paid out of pocket by patients (1,2). In response, the Government of Ontario plans to implement Ontario Health Insurance Plan Plus (OHIP+) effective January 1, 2018 as a means of alleviating this financial barrier for a portion of population that meet certain criteria. OHIP+ aims to

President Obama spoke about his desire for Americans to be able to import medicines at lower prices than they could find in the United States. Congress also has a broad range of bipartisan support for prescription drug importation from Canada. Unfortunately, President Obama backed off his statement in order to garner favor from the pharmaceutical industry, and Congress lacks the number of votes necessary to pass a bill on the subject. Now, Democratic candidates Senator Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley and Hillary Clinton vow to take up the fight. For the millions of Americans who require affordable medication, the renewed energy in this debate comes as a sign of