medicine

6:00PM
Printer-friendly version

There has been much discussion in the past 10 years about whether Canada needs a national Pharmacare plan. While the idea might appeal to some, the plan is driven by ideology as opposed to common sense.

Undoubtedly, it is clear that reform of provincial drug plans is necessary. However a national government plan is a step in the wrong direction and will only exacerbate the current situation where leaves millions of Canadians don’t have access to the medicines they need.


6:00PM
Printer-friendly version

Since 2000, at least five provincial studies, plus a Senate report have concluded that the annual growth in government health spending is not sustainable. At the same time government spending on prescription drugs - both patented and non-patented - is increasing faster than any other part of health spending. And new or patented medicines can be very expensive compared to older drugs and other health treatments. Some therefore blame patented medicines for unsustainable health care costs in Canada.


2:00AM
Printer-friendly version

Doctors have a professional monopoly on prescribing drugs, and the profession’s leaders are right to worry about doctors who abuse this authority by co-signing prescriptions for patients whom they have never examined.