Pharmacare is a Canadian proposal for a publicly funded insurance program for medications, [1] similar to Medicare for health insurance. Limited pharmacare programs exist in the provinces of Ontario, [2] Manitoba, [3] and British Columbia. [4] Multiple organizers and commenters have advocated a pan-Canadian pharmacare program to complement the existing health system, but the precise model for implementation is unclear. [5] [6] [7]
In 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to implement pharmacare if re-elected. [8] [9] In February 2024, the NDP and Liberals reached an agreement on proposed draft legislation for a pharmacare program. [10] The proposed program would create a single-payer system to cover expenses for contraceptives and diabetes medication in the first phase, with a designated budget of $1.5 billion. Subsequent phases would develop a national formulary and national purchasing plan, at an estimated cost of $38.9 billion for the 2027/28 fiscal year. [11] The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) was revamped into Canada's Drug Agency, tasked with creating a formulary and a national purchasing plan. [12]