Pharmacare | Jotup

Cost control rationale for pharmacare does not stand up to scrutiny: Canadian Health Policy Institute

Retrieved on:

Thursday, March 14, 2024

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TORONTO, March 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The latest edition of an annual study from the Canadian Health Policy Institute concludes that the cost control rationale for national pharmacare is not supported by the facts.

Key Points:

TORONTO, March 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The latest edition of an annual study from the Canadian Health Policy Institute concludes that the cost control rationale for national pharmacare is not supported by the facts.
It is a symbolic step toward a national pharmacare program that will replace existing public and private drug plans.
Pharmacare advocates are betting a single payer can demand deeper discounts without jeopardizing the availability of new medicines in Canada.
Excessive cost controls for patented medicines are counterproductive.”
“It appears unlikely that the current government will rethink its pharmacare policy.

Health Advocate Applauds Federal Government in Free Access to Contraceptives for Canadians

Retrieved on:

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Woman, New Democratic Party, Federation, Government, Pregnancy, Gynaecology, Intrauterine device, Pharmacare, Confidence, Policy, Birth, Reproductive rights, Workforce, Public, Birth control

OTTAWA, Feb. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist of Canada (SOGC) applauds the Canadian government on today’s historic announcement to include free access for prescription contraceptives as part of a National Framework for Pharmacare.

Key Points:

OTTAWA, Feb. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist of Canada (SOGC) applauds the Canadian government on today’s historic announcement to include free access for prescription contraceptives as part of a National Framework for Pharmacare.
This announcement begins a generational shift across Canada in terms of access and the future of women’s health care at large.
Access to contraception is not only a matter of reproductive rights but also a fundamental aspect of public health and equity.
“The SOGC is pleased with today’s announcement from the federal government and its commitment to women’s health care in Canada.

Statement from Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress on the news about NDP/Liberal negotiations on pharmacare:

Retrieved on:

Friday, February 23, 2024

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We are very encouraged by the news that the Liberals and New Democrats have reached a deal on pharmacare.

Key Points:

We are very encouraged by the news that the Liberals and New Democrats have reached a deal on pharmacare.
This achievement represents the most significant enhancement to our healthcare system since the creation of public healthcare in Canada.
It's a milestone that will profoundly impact the lives of Canadians by making healthcare more accessible and affordable.
These are the struggles many Canadians face daily – not the fake outrage that Mr. Poilievre is talking about these days.

2024 Employee Benefit Plans: Focus on Costs, Mental health, Well-being

Retrieved on:

Monday, January 29, 2024

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36% ranked cost containment as the top priority—a 17% increase compared to January 2023.

Key Points:

36% ranked cost containment as the top priority—a 17% increase compared to January 2023.
Today's cost-conscious climate makes it especially important for advisors and customers to clarify priorities, said Mark Sylvia, President and CEO of Empire Life.
We definitely see an increased emphasis on making sure employees can come to work feeling better, feeling healthy, feeling connected."
According to Black, 72% of businesses surveyed had a specific strategy to support mental health and 30% were adopting the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety.

Will the supply-and-confidence deal between the Liberals and NDP survive in 2024?

Retrieved on:

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Liberal, Policy, Pharmacare, Conservative Party, Green, MP, Green Party, Political lists, New Democrats, Parliament of Canada, COVID-19, NDP, Commonwealth, Adoption, Politics, Parliament, Bloc, Risk management

The deal eased the uncertainty facing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government while allowing the NDP to take credit for some of the government’s social policy announcements.

Key Points:

The deal eased the uncertainty facing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government while allowing the NDP to take credit for some of the government’s social policy announcements.
That’s because of the Trudeau government’s failure in 2023 to deliver on pharmacare, a central aspect of the March 2022 agreement.

Past agreements

Inter-party agreements in Canadian Parliament are extremely rare.
Such supply-and-confidence agreements are common elsewhere in the Commonwealth, but largely unprecedented in Canadian politics.

Three factors at play

First, since Trudeau became prime minister in late 2015, the Liberals and NDP have moved closer together.
The two parties share more policies than in the past, especially in the area of social policy.
The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, provided an opportunity for greater co-operation in the design and implementation of temporary and expansive emergency measures.
Second, public support over the last four years has left the Liberals and the NDP in a tricky situation.

Political tensions

But currently, growing tensions between the Liberals and the NDP make the future of the agreement increasingly uncertain.
That’s largely because of the recent sharp decline in public support for the Liberals.
Singh has suggested the Liberals have only agreed to enact progressive policies that truly help Canadians when forced to do so by the NDP.

Death of the deal ahead?

Those types of agreements are much more common in Canada’s minority parliaments than formal legislative coalitions like the existing supply-and-confidence agreement.
The question for the NDP is whether it’s better off electorally with or without the agreement.

Daniel Béland receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Louis Massé receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Workers Mobilize on the Hill to Urge MPs to Act as Families Continue to Struggle

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

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OTTAWA, Nov. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Workers from across Canada took to Parliament Hill this week to urge the government to create a public, universal pharmacare system.

Key Points:

OTTAWA, Nov. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Workers from across Canada took to Parliament Hill this week to urge the government to create a public, universal pharmacare system.
“Workers want to know: Do the Conservatives support the bill – support workers – or not?” said Bruske.
“Workers and their families are struggling to make ends meet and worry that they’ll be out of work as we transition our economy.
I urge the Liberal government to introduce legislation to enact universal pharmacare and to move forward with bills C-50 and C-58."

MITSUBISHI TANABE PHARMA CANADA ANNOUNCES THAT COMPANY'S ORAL TREATMENT FORMULATION FOR AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS) HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE PROVINCIAL DRUG PLANS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

"To date, RADICAVA® Oral Suspension is listed on the majority of provincial public drug plans.

Key Points:

"To date, RADICAVA® Oral Suspension is listed on the majority of provincial public drug plans.
MTP-CA will continue to work with the remaining provincial, territorial and federal drug plans to help ensure that RADICAVA® Oral Suspension is listed on all public formularies across the country."
To date, it is estimated that the majority of private insurance plans in the country cover RADICAVA® Oral Suspension.
MTP-CA continues to have discussions with the territories and federal agencies regarding the listing of RADICAVA® Oral Suspension under additional publicly funded drug programs.

Unifor sets sights on anti-scab law and fixing EI for next parliamentary sitting

Retrieved on:

Monday, September 18, 2023

Workplace, Parliament, Unifor National Council 4000, Private sector, Federation, Unemployment benefits, Social justice, Pharmacare, Investment, Unifor, Safety, Nursing, Renewable energy, EI

Workers shouldn't have to wait any longer for workplace and EI changes that will improve working conditions and a withering safety net," said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.

Key Points:

Workers shouldn't have to wait any longer for workplace and EI changes that will improve working conditions and a withering safety net," said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.
In recent years Unifor has ramped up campaigns for banning scabs and building better EI .
Canada's needlessly inaccessible EI system offers inadequate benefit rates and does not provide the safety net workers and their families need, says Unifor.
Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy.

As Parliament Returns, People Feel the Pain from High Prices, a Slowing Economy

Retrieved on:

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Canadian Labour Congress, Pharmacare, Government, Parliament, Congress, MP, Climate change, Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Bruske, Scabs, EI, Renewable energy

“Canada’s unions are looking to MPs from all parties to come together behind swift action to make sure help is there for people facing high prices, stretched budgets and a weakening economy,” urged Bruske.

Key Points:

“Canada’s unions are looking to MPs from all parties to come together behind swift action to make sure help is there for people facing high prices, stretched budgets and a weakening economy,” urged Bruske.
“The Americans’ Inflation Reduction Act has challenged the world to act, and many countries are responding.
The Sustainable Jobs Act provides a roadmap for Canada’s governments, businesses, and unions to work together and make sure our workers aren’t left behind in the global transition to a low-carbon economy,” warned Bruske.
“If we ban the use of scabs once and for all, we can take a real step towards greater labour peace, avoiding work stoppages and building a more balanced economy.”

Fraser Institute News Release: Provinces risk their finances by relying on federal transfers for programs in areas of provincial jurisdiction

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

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“When the federal government makes spending commitments in areas of provincial jurisdiction, there is always the risk that when the federal government changes, or federal government priorities change, the provinces will be on the hook to finance those programs and their increasing costs,” said Tegan Hill, a senior economist with the Fraser Institute and co-author of Repeating the Past: Provinces Accept Federal Money at Their Peril.

Key Points:

“When the federal government makes spending commitments in areas of provincial jurisdiction, there is always the risk that when the federal government changes, or federal government priorities change, the provinces will be on the hook to finance those programs and their increasing costs,” said Tegan Hill, a senior economist with the Fraser Institute and co-author of Repeating the Past: Provinces Accept Federal Money at Their Peril.
The study draws on the experience of Canada’s recent past—specifically the 1990s—when the federal government reformed and reduced transfers to the provinces to tackle the federal deficit and mounting debt.
Any change in federal priorities or the finances of the federal government could result in marked financial pressure being imposed on the provinces.
“Provincial policymakers should be aware of the risk to their own fiscal positions when entering into funding agreements with the federal government for provincial programs, and the current federal deficit and debt problem only heightens this risk.”