Mike Kennedy’s 2011 Federal Election Blog – Part 3

Liberal Party pledges “Better Coverage of Prescription Drugs Across Canada”

Dear One & All,

The Liberals were the first of the federal parties to release their election platform, titled Your Family. Your Future. Your Canada. The Grits propose a collaborative approach to addressing the rising cost of drugs, outlining their intent to work with provinces and territories to “ensure that all Canadians from coast-to-coast to-coast have a drug plan that covers the cost of prescription drugs for illnesses…”.

Ignatieff and Co. propose addressing the rising costs of drugs by supporting the provinces and territories in developing a shared purchasing strategy to achieve lower costs – a potentially interesting cost-cutting idea first proposed by Ontario Premier Dalton McGinty during the 2010 premier’s meeting.

A number of Liberal candidates responded to my Twitter inquiry on minimum standard of drug coverage:

“Will work with provinces/territories 2 reduce prescrip drug cost 4 h’care system, ensure all Cdns have adequate drug coverage” – Geoff Regan, Liberal Candidate for Halifax West via Twitter

“Lib platform pledges to work toward catastrophic drug coverage for all Cdns; also to reduce drug costs through shared buying” – Rick Szostak, Liberal Candidate for Edmonton-Sherwood Park via Twitter

Overall, the Liberal party appears committed to working toward more consistent Canada-wide catastrophic drug coverage; however, the level of detail of their platform on the issue leaves a number of questions as to how, in a practical sense, this will be achieved. I would like to see commitment to a clear timeline for achieving a national catastrophic drug coverage plan.

What do you think about the Liberal’s platform as it relates to catastrophic drug coverage? Tell us via Twitter or Facebook.

Click below to read previous blog postings

Too many drug plans – not enough political leadership>/a>
As the election approaches, Canadians can now make a choice on a National Catastrophic Drug Coverage plan
Election 2011 – will we vote?
Mike Kennedy’s 2011 Federal Election Blog – Part 7: The Candidates Speak-Up
Mike Kennedy’s 2011 Federal Election Blog – Part 6
Mike Kennedy’s 2011 Federal Election Blog – Part 5
Mike Kennedy’s 2011 Federal Election Blog – Part 4
Leaders Debate Special
Mike Kennedy’s 2011 Federal Election Blog – Part 3
Mike Kennedy’s 2011 Federal Election Blog – Part 2
Have your say in next week’s federal election leaders’ debates
Mike Kennedy’s 2011 Federal Election Blog – Part 1
Cancer and the Federal Election: