Silas: It’s time for the full dose of Pharmacare
November 14, 2024 (Ottawa, ON) – Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), has been appointed to the National Pharmacare Committee of Experts tasked with making recommendations for the government’s implementation of the next stage of national pharmacare.
“As a nurse and lifelong advocate for universal pharmacare, I am humbled and honoured to be a part of the committee working on this historic and much-needed expansion of our public health care system,” said Silas.
Silas thanked the Minister of Health, the Honourable Mark Holland, and other parliamentarians for their trust in being appointed to the committee of experts on pharmacare.
“Nurses know the impact universal pharmacare could have on their patients. Imagine watching a patient leave your care while knowing they cannot afford the prescription they need,” explained Silas. “Millions of Canadians can’t afford medications that are essential to their health and well-being. A truly comprehensive, universal and single-payer pharmacare program will change lives.”
Shortfalls in prescription drug coverage result in daily deaths and illness among people with treatable conditions – a grim finding from CFNU’s 2018 study, Body Count.
Bill C-64, An act respecting Pharmacare, follows nurses’ and health care workers’ recommendations to create a framework for a national, single-payer, universal and comprehensive pharmacare program. The legislation included coverage for prescription medications starting with birth control, diabetes medications and a fund for critically needed diabetic equipment.
Over the next year, the National Pharmacare Committee of Experts will develop recommendations on how to operationalize and finance the next phase of a national pharmacare program.
“The foundation for the full dose of pharmacare that Canadians need has been laid by Bill C-64. The next step is for this committee to recommend that no one in Canada should ever have to pay for necessary prescription medications out of their pocket,” said Silas. “I look forward to working with Dr. Nav Persaud, Dr. Steve Morgan and other esteemed committee experts on this critical opportunity to advance a national pharmacare program. Fully universal pharmacare will put Canada on the right track toward a healthier future for everyone.”
The CFNU has been a staunch advocate for equal access to necessary pharmaceuticals since 1985.
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For more information, please contact Adella Khan, CFNU Communications, media@nursesunions.ca, 613-807-2942.
The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) is Canada’s largest nurses’ organization, representing frontline unionized nurses and nursing students in every sector of health care – from home care and LTC to community and acute care – and advocating on key priorities to strengthen public health care across the country.