(Ottawa) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling on provinces and territories to begin negotiating agreements on drug insurance as soon as possible.
Trudeau spoke to reporters Friday morning as he wrapped up a visit to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Laos, where he touted “real progress.” carried out in Ottawa after the adoption by the Senate of the bill on drug insurance.
This piece of legislation was at the heart of the political pact between the Liberals and the New Democratic Party, which pushed for the bill to be introduced.
Now that it has become law, the Drug Insurance Act allows provinces and territories to enter into agreements with the federal government to begin providing certain diabetes and contraceptive medications to patients free of charge.
So far, British Columbia has signed a memorandum of understanding to provide coverage.
The federal Minister of Health says he hopes that all provinces and territories will do the same by next spring.
“Now, we must negotiate with the provinces to deliver this money, to deliver these services which will make such a big difference,” Prime Minister Trudeau said at a press conference.
“I expect the provinces to quickly come to the table,” he added.