Call For National Pharmacare Program In Canada Grows Louder

An advisory council established by the Canadian federal government is recommending the country implement a universal, single payer public pharmacare program.

Canada_PiggyBank
Canada's proposed pharmacare program could make prescription drugs more affordable • Source: Shutterstock

Canada should introduce a universal, single-payer publicly funded pharmacare system, says a government appointed advisory council. Under the proposed plan a list of essential drugs would be made available by 2022 and a more comprehensive list by 2027. In addition, the council’s report recommends more measures to increase the use of biosimilars and generics.

Canada has no single provider of pharmaceuticals. Many Canadians access the drugs they need through work-based private plans, while provincial...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Canada

Canada Joins Global Push To Drop Costly Clinical Trials For Biosimilars

 

Health Canada’s proposal to no longer require biosimilar manufacturers to prove the safety and efficacy of their product through Phase III clinical trials marks a pivotal change in Canada’s regulatory approach.

Canada’s HTA Agency Reveals How To Submit AI-Driven Evidence

 

Recognizing that the evidence it receives in applications for health technology assessments will increasingly be informed by artificial intelligence, the CDA-AMC has clarified its expectations for companies that use AI methods in the generation and/or reporting of evidence.

‘Hope And Scientific Spillover’ – Cross-Atlantic HTA Alliance To Focus On Novel Benefits

 

An initiative run by health technology appraisal (HTA) bodies in the US, Canada and England is looking at how non-traditional treatment benefits, such as the value of hope and scientific spillover, can inform appraisals and understanding of a product’s value.

More from North America

First Among Equals: US FDA CBER Director Prasad Gains Agency-Wide Authority

 

As Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, Vinay Prasad will advise the FDA Commissioner on cross-cutting issues, provide strategic leadership and be a public face of the agency.

BIO Notebook: MFN Pricing, Obesity R&D, US FDA’s Rare Disease Hub And Reaction To Review Program

Highlights from Day Three of the BIO International Convention include the realities of MFN pricing, AstraZeneca's R&D plans for obesity, the need for resources for the FDA's rare disease hub and reactions to the Commissioner's National Priority Review Voucher program.

BIO Notebook: Policy Problems, ACIP’s Future, BI Is Popular, Makary On FDA-Industry Ties

 

Highlights from Day Two of the BIO International Convention include BIO officials raising concerns about Trump Administration policies, the future of ACIP, an interview with BI's head of global business development, and FDA Commissioner Martin Makary's view of the FDA-industry relationship.