LPC and NDP pharmacare bill passed by Senate

The pharmacare bill, which was at the heart of a political pact between the Liberals and the New Democratic Party (NDP), became law Thursday after the Senate passed it without making changes . The vote was quickly followed by royal assent on Thursday evening.

The legislation will inform the creation of any future national and universal pharmacare plan. It will also allow the government to sign agreements with provinces and territories to cover diabetes medications and contraceptives as part of the public health system.

“This will transform the lives of millions of Canadians,” rejoiced Health Minister Mark Holland in a video posted on social media Thursday evening after the vote.

The wording and content of the bill were carefully negotiated as part of the now-defunct supply and confidence agreement between the NDP and Liberals.

“This is something that Tommy Douglas always envisioned when he pushed for a universal health care system more than half a century ago,” the NDP health critic pointed out on Thursday. Peter Julian. “Canada is the only country with a universal health care system that does not have universal pharmacare. »

British Columbia has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Ottawa to launch the diabetes medication and contraceptive program in that province.

Minister Holland hopes that all provinces and territories will sign on to the program by next spring.

“Provinces like British Columbia and Manitoba have already expressed interest, which means that agreements should be able to be signed quickly and that drugs should begin to be covered,” added Mr. Julian.

The new law calls for the government to convene a panel of experts over the next month to study the next steps in establishing a full-fledged pharmacare program. This committee will have one year to report its recommendations to the Minister of Health.

To watch on video