Alberta intends to opt out of national pharmacare plan
Global News
Alberta intends to opt out of the proposed national pharmacare plan.
The NDP has reached a deal with the Liberal government to introduce the first piece of a national pharmacare program that includes coverage for birth control and diabetes medication but it appears Alberta does not intend to be part of the agreement.
It’s a critical piece of the supply-and-confidence agreement between the two parties and comes ahead of a March 1 deadline to table legislation. Some final details may still be worked out but the Alberta government says it plans to opt out.
Dr. Rupindeer Toor started a petition last year aimed at advocating for federal universal access to free prescription contraception. Toor is the medical director and founder of The IUD & Women’s Clinic in Calgary.
When the news came out on Friday of a federal pharmacare deal that is to include full coverage for contraceptives, she was thrilled.
“The people who are struggling to afford contraception would struggle to support a child as well, so I think it comes down to prevention, which is always going to be cheaper,” Toor said on Sunday.
Toor is also the founder and chief medical officer of Project EmpowHER. A report commissioned by EmpowHER found that 83 per cent of Canadians supported universal coverage of contraceptives.
“Birth control is not free in Canada and the cost is a barrier for the most vulnerable in our society,” Toor said.
In an email to Global News on Sunday, Alberta’s health minister said that if the federal government pursues a national pharmacare program, Alberta intends to opt out, and instead intends to obtain a full per capita share of the funding.
