News

“Pharmacare Consensus Principles” Clearly Outlines the Principles by Which a National Pharmacare Program Should be Governed

September 24, 2018 11:00 AM

MEDIA RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

“PHARMACARE CONSENSUS PRINCIPLES” CLEARLY OUTLINES THE PRINCIPLES BY WHICH A NATIONAL PHARMACARE PROGRAM SHOULD BE GOVERNED

Pro-pharmacare advocates across the country have achieved consensus about the principles which must underpin a national pharmacare program in Canada. More than 70 national, provincial and territorial organizations agree that Canadian pharmacare must be a single-payer system that is universal, public, accessible, comprehensive, and provides portable coverage. Friends of Medicare is proud to be one of the many signatories to this national consensus.

Our public health care is on trial

September 18, 2018 12:36 PM

We are following the current attack on public health care ongoing now at the BC Supreme Court

Election 2019 Health Care Priorities Survey

August 16, 2018 3:23 PM

In preparation for the Alberta election in 2019, Friends of Medicare is seeking feedback from the community about their experiences with our health care system. From now until the end of this year, we will be releasing a series of short surveys to help us determine what values and concrete health care policies Albertans want to see reflected in the platforms coming from each political party vying to lead Alberta after 2019. Your participation will help ensure that a commitment to public health care is front and centre for the 2019 election cycle, and will enable us to continue to work towards accessible, timely, and quality health care for all Albertans.

Keep your eye on this page in the upcoming months -- it will be updated with the latest survey links as they are released.

Friends of Medicare Commends HESA Report on Pharmacare

April 18, 2018 3:02 PM

Friends of Medicare Commends HESA Report on Pharmacare

Friends of Medicare joins our partners from the Canadian Health Coalition in applauding the the Parliamentary Committee on Health (HESA) on its report on a national public drug plan, "Pharmacare Now: Prescription Medicine Coverage for all Canadians."

Friends of Medicare Applauds Alberta Government for Protecting Women's Access to Health Care Services

April 05, 2018 2:58 AM

MEDIA RELEASE
APRIL 5, 2018

FRIENDS OF MEDICARE APPLAUDS ALBERTA GOVERNMENT FOR PROTECTING WOMEN'S ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Friends of Medicare is extremely pleased to see the introduction of Bill 9: The Protecting Choice for Women Accessing Health Care Act, which will ensure that women in Alberta can freely exercise their right to safely access health care services.

Restrained Spending in Budget 2018 Sets Unwelcome Precedent

March 22, 2018 1:42 PM

MEDIA RELEASE
MARCH 22, 2018

RESTRAINED SPENDING IN BUDGET 2018 SETS UNWELCOME PRECEDENT

In the past three budgets, this government has managed to maintain the line of health care spending, staying slightly above population and inflation growth. Budget 2018 represents a concerning trend of spending restraints by only increasing health care spending by 3%, not even meeting population and inflation growth of 3.5%.

Friends of Medicare and the Canadian Health Coalition Oppose Morneau's Plan to Limit Access to Drugs

February 28, 2018 12:58 PM

MEDIA RELEASE
FEB 28, 2018
OTTAWA

Friends of Medicare and the Canadian Health Coalition Oppose Morneau's Plan to Limit Access to Drugs

The Canadian Health Coalition (CHC), representing health care advocates across Canada, and Friends of Medicare (FOM), its Alberta affiliate, have called the finance minister's backing away from a universal public drug plan a betrayal of the expressed desire of Canadians for what has been called the "unfinished business" of Medicare.

Nine out of 10 Canadians Want to See the Federal Government Enforce the Canada Health Act

As the Alberta affiliate of the Canadian Health Coalition, Friends of Medicare is in the nation's capital this week to focus on provincial and national issues related to privatization and the proliferation of private clinics across the country. A new poll conducted by EKOS Polling and commissioned by the Canadian Health Coalition shows 9 out of 10 Canadians want the federal government to intervene when unlawful billing takes place.

Trans and Health Care Advocates Holding Event on Barriers to Care

Advocates for a more inclusive health care system from B.C. and Alberta are gathering at a town hall meeting on Thursday, February 1 in Edmonton to discuss barriers to access for trans patients, and how centres outside Alberta have had success providing more equal access to care.

“As an organization committed to equal access to health care, Friends of Medicare have been disturbed to learn of wait times longer than two years for trans patients to access needed hormone replacement therapy medications,” said Friends of Medicare Executive Director Sandra Azocar. “We felt that this was an important conversation to have, and this event has been organized to highlight barriers and call for solutions.”

News

“Pharmacare Consensus Principles” Clearly Outlines the Principles by Which a National Pharmacare Program Should be Governed

“PHARMACARE CONSENSUS PRINCIPLES” CLEARLY OUTLINES THE PRINCIPLES BY WHICH A NATIONAL PHARMACARE PROGRAM SHOULD BE GOVERNED

Our public health care is on trial

We are following the current attack on public health care ongoing now at the BC Supreme Court

Election 2019 Health Care Priorities Survey

Friends of Medicare Commends HESA Report on Pharmacare

Friends of Medicare Commends HESA Report on Pharmacare

Friends of Medicare Applauds Alberta Government for Protecting Women's Access to Health Care Services

FRIENDS OF MEDICARE APPLAUDS ALBERTA GOVERNMENT FOR PROTECTING WOMEN'S ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Restrained Spending in Budget 2018 Sets Unwelcome Precedent

RESTRAINED SPENDING IN BUDGET 2018 SETS UNWELCOME PRECEDENT

Friends of Medicare and the Canadian Health Coalition Oppose Morneau's Plan to Limit Access to Drugs

Friends of Medicare and the Canadian Health Coalition Oppose Morneau's Plan to Limit Access to Drugs

Nine out of 10 Canadians Want to See the Federal Government Enforce the Canada Health Act

Nine out of 10 Canadians Want to See the Federal Government Enforce the Canada Health Act

Trans and Health Care Advocates Holding Event on Barriers to Care

Trans and Health Care Advocates Holding Event on Barriers to Care

UCP Health Policies Would Move Alberta Backwards to the 1990s

UCP Health Policies Would Move Alberta Backwards to the 1990s

Modern Health Care Solutions are Needed

“Pharmacare Consensus Principles” Clearly Outlines the Principles by Which a National Pharmacare Program Should be Governed