NDP asks Liberals to start covering some medicines as parties negotiate pharmacare

New Democrats have asked the Liberals to begin covering a handful of essential medicines as negotiations continue behind the scenes on developing a pharmacare system.

A senior NDP source not authorized to speak publicly told CBC that the NDP has asked the Liberals to not just deliver pharmacare legislation but to also begin covering several life-saving drugs for conditions like diabetes.

The senior NDP source, who is close to the negotiations, said the Liberals have agreed to cover fewer than five drugs. Health Minister Mark Holland's office would not confirm that report.

The NDP source said the coverage is expected to begin sooner rather than later but could not say precisely when.

Under the NDP-Liberal supply and confidence agreement — which sees the NDP support the minority Liberal government on confidence votes in exchange for movement on New Democrats' policy priorities — Canada was supposed to see legislation outlining the principles of pharmacare and a plan to start covering some drugs by 2025.

According to the wording of that agreement, the government would not need "to develop a national formulary of essential medicines and bulk purchasing plan by the end of the agreement."

Speaking to reporters, NDP health critic Don Davies would not say whether the Liberals and NDP are discussing fast-tracking the coverage of some drugs. CBC asked Davies whether he was expecting the Liberals' 2024 budget to contain new spending on pharmacare.

"Not necessarily," he replied.

Davies said the NDP's primary focus is on developing a legislative framework for pharmacare.

"We're not talking about an expenditure of money for several years down the road," he told reporters during a break at the NDP caucus retreat in Edmonton on Thursday.

"What we're focusing on now is we're battling for the proper way to deliver prescription medication to Canadians, and that's a public system."

New Democrats and Liberals have set a new deadline of March 1 for tabling pharmacare legislation. Davies said he expects to meet next week with Holland when Parliament returns.

The senior NDP source said one key sticking point has been disputes over what the parties actually mean by pharmacare.

While the agreement the Liberals and the NDP signed does not define pharmacare, New Democrats have insisted on a universal system that is publicly delivered and administered, with the federal government as the single payer.