Too many drug plans – not enough political leadership

Unlike most OECD countries, Canada does not have a national drug insurance plan – but we do have more than 19 tax-payer funded plans – 6 federal, 10 provincial, 3 territorial and thousands of private and employer sponsored plans

As an employer, the federal government provides coverage for all elected officials and public servants. The federal government has also acknowledged that with regards to its role as a provider of healthcare services to sub-populations of Canadians, drug coverage is a medically essential part of care, and therefore provides benefits to First Nations and Inuit people, federal prisoners, refugees, Armed Forces personnel and veterans. Federal plans cover about 1 million Canadians’ at a cost in 2008-09 of $594M. As both an employer and a provider, the federal government has taken responsibility for ensuring the people it serves are protected from catastrophic drug coverage.

The lucky Canadians who are covered through Sun Life by their federal government employer get 100% coverage – or in the worst case scenario, partially coverage is capped at $3K per year.

Times have changed since the Canada Health Act declared that medically-essential services were only those services provided in a doctor’s office or hospital – prescription drugs are an integral and growing health insurance benefit. But drug insurance coverage is not equitably or fairly distributed for all Canadians – especially those living in Atlantic Canada, those who are young and un or under employed – and this is a problem only the federal government can solve.

The combination of an ageing population and rising costs for new drugs has pushed the issue of catastrophic drug coverage front and center in public concern and media coverage during the federal campaign. High profile and credible organizations– including the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology, the Colorectal Cancer Association of Cancer, Heart and Stroke, the Canadian Association of Retired Persons – have stepped up to demand action and seen significant progress.

The federal parties have responded by making specific commitments to ensuring national drug insurance coverage.

Except the Conservatives.

Tories continue to push the problem back onto the provinces by repeatedly saying only that they will continue to support a publically funded healthcare system through transfer payments to the provinces of 6% annually. This approach had not prevented or fixed the problem in the past 6 years and won’t make a difference going forward.

There is an unacceptable double standard of care that allows the government of Canada to act fairly as an employer and provider of care – including to the Prime Minister and his colleagues in the House of Commons – while prolonging the injustice for many Canadians.

The Prime Minister and his policy-makers need to put their noses to the grindstone and implement a series of measures that will make fair treatment for catastrophic drug insurance feasible, affordable and sustainable – for all Canadians.

Pat Kelly
CEO, Campaign to Control Cancer

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: