Pharmacare

  • Any new federal health funding must be targeted towards stronger public health care in Alberta

    Premiers' demand for federal dollars through increased Canada Health Transfer must have strings attached to ensure it goes to improving health care for all

    The Council of the Federation, made up of the 13 provincial and territorial premiers, are meeting tomorrow with a focus on their united push for an increase in the Canada Health Transfer that the Federal government provides. Over the past two years, many of the premiers have used the ongoing pandemic as a justification to call for an unconditional increase in health funding. 
     
    “Even during this global pandemic our provincial UCP government has repeatedly shown they can’t be trusted to prioritize our public health care system over their ideological push for corporate tax cuts, layoffs, funding cuts and privatization,” said Chris Gallaway, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    February 03, 2022

  • Friends of Medicare’s statement on the Federal Speech from the Throne

    EDMONTON — Following today’s Speech from the Throne, Friends of Medicare were disappointed to see an utter lack of movement towards the long-awaited expansion and much-needed improvement of our health care system. Particularly, we saw little direction as it pertains to the implementation of universal Pharmacare, taking profits out of Long-Term Care, and investing in better and public mental health care. We had also hoped to see an indication of a permanent fix to Employment Insurance by ensuring that paid sick days for all workers is the rule and not the exemption.
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    November 23, 2021

  • APWG: Bill C-213 important step towards a long-awaited national, universal Pharmacare

    EDMONTON - The Alberta Pharmacare Working Group (APWG) is encouraged by the tabling and subsequent debate of Bill C-213, An Act to Enact the Canada Pharmacare Act. If passed, this private member’s bill would create a framework for the implementation of a national pharmacare program modeled after the Canada Health Act, founded on the principles of public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability and accessibility. The Bill comes before the House of Commons in an historic vote tomorrow, February 24, 2021.
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    February 23, 2021

  • Drug coverage changes kick Albertans while they're down

    EDMONTON — AHS has proposed a new program that would shift the cost of certain medications, including those used to treat cancer and Crohn’s, onto patients, as revealed in a CBC report today. This change exemplifies this government’s cruel, shameful and short-sighted approach to saving money on the backs of sick Albertans.

    The Standardizing Access to Medications for Ambulatory Patients (STAMP) program aims to reduce AHS spending by an estimated $2.3 million dollars by requiring that patients pay for the cost of their medications, as well as the costs of having them administered, such as in the case of infusions.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    October 21, 2020

  • Throne Speech: Premiers Should Not Play Partisan Politics with Health Care; Concrete Commitments Needed From Provincial & Federal Governments

    EDMONTON (Canada-wide) — Health Coalitions across Canada were pleased with Throne Speech promises to expand public health care to create a universal comprehensive public pharmacare program and to set national standards for long-term care. However, concrete commitments are conspicuously absent. 

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    September 29, 2020

  • APWG: Pharmacare Bill signals a positive step towards a long-awaited national, universal Pharmacare program

    The Alberta Pharmacare Working Group (APWG) is encouraged by the tabling of Bill C-213, An act to enact the Canada Pharmacare Act. This private member’s bill, introduced by Peter Julian, MP for New Westminster-Burnaby, proposes the framework for the implementation of a national pharmacare program modeled after the Canada Health Act, and founded in the principles of public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability and accessibility.

    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    February 24, 2020

  • Advisory Council on Pharmacare recommends a single-payer, universal, public pharmacare system

     
    Today was a historical day for public health care. The Advisory Council for the Implementation of National Pharmacare released its final report, recommending a universal, single-payer pharmacare program. Following a year-long consultation process with Canadians and stakeholder groups, the Advisory Council has taken the first major step towards finally achieving a national prescription drug plan for all.
     
    “Canadians have spoken and have said clearly that we don’t want to wait another 53 years to implement a national pharmacare plan,” says Sandra Azocar, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “After decades of advocacy and report after report calling for a national pharmacare program, Friends of Medicare is pleased to finally be seeing progress on this important issue that has impacted the lives and well-being of Canadians for so long.”
     
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    June 12, 2019

  • Extended seniors coverage is a welcome step towards ultimate goal of achieving a truly universal drug plan

    MEDIA RELEASE
    MARCH 29, 2019

    Reducing pharmaceutical cost barriers for seniors is a welcome step towards ultimate goal of achieving a truly universal drug plan
    Today’s announcement by the NDP about their plan to expand pharmaceutical coverage to all low and middle income seniors is a welcome incremental step in addressing the massive burden that drug costs have on Albertans and their families.
     
    The announcement came with a commitment of $110 million per year, which the NDP estimates will save qualifying seniors an average of $200 annually in out of pocket costs. The plan will cover all seniors with a yearly income of $75,000 or less, impacting 4 out of 5 seniors. Currently all Albertans aged 65 or older have drug coverage through the Coverage for Seniors Benefit, but are required to pay copayments of 30% for each prescription they fill, up to a maximum of $25. As many seniors require multiple medications, these costs can quickly add up, especially impacting the many seniors on a fixed income.
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    March 29, 2019

  • APWG Optimistic About Advisory Council's Interm Report

    Alberta Pharmacare Working Group Optimistic About Advisory Council's Interim Report

     
    Edmonton - The Alberta Pharmacare Working Group is encouraged following today’s release of the Advisory Council for the Implementation of National Pharmacare’s interim report. Its initial recommendations outline six core principles for national pharmacare, and call for: the creation of a national drug agency; a comprehensive, evidence-based national drug formulary; and, investment in drug data and information technology.
     
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    March 06, 2019

  • FOM Responds to Advisory Council's Interim Report

    Friends of Medicare responds to the release of the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare's Interim Report
    “Today’s release of the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare interim report was thin on details but it is a good first step in establishing a foundation for the implementation of what Friends of Medicare hopes to see become a universal, single-payer pharmacare program,” says Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.
    Fom Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    March 06, 2019