Canadians are a step closer to benefiting from the NDP’s pharmacare plan

Canada’s NDP critic for Health Peter Julian issued the following statement in reaction to the NDP’s pharmacare plan that passed through the Senate on Thursday evening:

“Every year, millions of Canadians are forced to go without their prescription medications because they can’t afford them. Hundreds of people die preventable deaths across this country because they can’t access medication. And Canadians consistently pay among the world’s highest drug prices due to private patchwork approach to coverage.

But this will change.

New Democrats used our power in Ottawa to force the Liberals to deliver a single-payer universal pharmacare system through the Supply and Confidence Agreement, and today, Canadians are a step closer to receiving this life-changing benefit. This includes free diabetes medications and free contraceptives.

What would be a great danger to pharmacare is the Conservatives’ desire to cut it if they have the chance. But Canadians have a choice: Conservative cuts or hope and relief with the NDP.

Liberals have promised pharmacare for almost three decades—but they let you down and caved to the greed of Big Pharma that wants you to pay more for your medication. It wasn’t until New Democrats stood up to Big Pharma and forced the Liberals to deliver. We stood up for 8 million Canadians who currently lack adequate drug coverage and will finally receive relief thanks to the NDP’s pharmacare plan.

No one should be forced to skip their medication because they can’t afford it. Greedy Big Pharma CEOs have had their governments. It’s the people’s time.”