EDMONTON — Every year, November 14 is recognized as World Diabetes Day. This year’s theme is 'Diabetes and well-being,' a reminder that our province has a long way to go to ensure those living with diabetes in Alberta have access to the care they need to live a healthy life.
This year’s World Diabetes Day is the first following the historic new National Pharmacare Act becoming federal law. The next step is for the federal government to negotiate with provincial governments to get the program in place. Unfortunately, the Alberta government has previously stated they intend to opt us out of any national Pharmacare program. This decision was made even before any details of the program or legislation had been publicly announced.
“The federal legislation is a major step forward for drug coverage in Canada, laying the groundwork for what would be the most significant expansion to our public health care system since the creation of national Medicare over sixty years ago,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “The framework for universal, single-payer, first-dollar drug coverage for all Canadians, beginning with coverage of contraceptives and diabetes medication and equipment is in front of us. But actually getting those medications to the people who need them requires our provincial government to stop picking political fights and instead take action to ensure all Albertans living with diabetes have access to this much-needed coverage!”
Canadians currently pay some of the highest drug costs in the world. Alberta’s current complex patchwork of private and public drug and health benefit plans is leaving far too many struggling to pay for the medications and equipment they need. Study after study has reiterated that moving to a universal Pharmacare plan would save governments, employers, Albertans and our provincial health care systems billions of dollars per year, as well as save countless lives. And Albertans have repeatedly made clear that this is a program they want to be a part of.
“An estimated 420 working-aged Canadians with diabetes die prematurely each year because they don't have adequate access to their equipment and medications,” said Gallaway. “This is unacceptable. Albertans living with diabetes deserve action, now. They deserve universal coverage for the medications and equipment they need, not more needless delays.”
In recognition of World Diabetes Day, Friends of Medicare asks Albertans to join us in letting the provincial government know that we deserve Pharmacare: friendsofmedicare.org/abpharmacare
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