Alberta intends to opt out of national pharmacare program: health minister
Alberta’s health minister said the province will be opting out of a national pharmacare program.
The federal NDP announced it reached a deal to table pharmacare framework legislation with the Liberals on Friday.
“If the federal government pursues a national pharmacare program, Alberta intends to opt out of the program, and to instead receive our full per capita share of that funding for deployment into our provincial health-care system," Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said Monday.
Details of the national deal are expected when legislation is introduced this week. The deal would allow every Canadian with a health card to access free diabetes medication and birth control.
Those medications can cost hundreds of dollars monthly, depending on the level of health-care coverage someone has.
“Insulin is expensive,” said Lisa Hart, who has Type 1 diabetes. “Anywhere $30 to $40 a vial, and everyone's needs are different. Personally, I go through about three to four vials a month. Some will use more, some less.”
It’s those who don’t have proper coverage that are the biggest concerns for health-care advocates, who worry opting out of a national plan will leave some people behind.
"So many Albertans you know, are struggling with just basic costs for things like housing and groceries, you know, contraception and diabetes medications should not be luxury items in Alberta,” said Dr. Rupinder Toor, the medical director of the Calgary IUD Women’s Clinic.
Quebec has also said it intends to opt-out of the program, and Nova Scotia and New Brunswick said they’re waiting for details before deciding whether to sign on.
The health minister said it should be up to provincial governments to decide how to run the program.
“We are not going to allow Ottawa to pick and choose what coverage should be available to Albertans based on issues they find politically palatable,” LaGrange said.
“Much like previous national programs the Liberal government has announced, including the dental program, there was no consultation done with provinces or service providers.”
The minister also admitted Alberta doesn’t know how much the province would be eligible for, or whether the federal government will even provide it without signing onto the deal.
"That is a good deal for Albertans potentially, and our provincial government won't even review it before saying no because they would rather pick a fight with Ottawa, play politics than actually help Albertans in their health,” said Chris Gallaway, with Friends of Medicare.
Those who need the medication say not knowing is an added stress.
“Knowing that we have solid health care would be immense in the diabetes community to know that we are cared for and that our health is important and valued,” Hart said.
The newly agreed-upon deal fulfils part of the Liberal and NDP confidence-and-supply agreement.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he understands negotiations with the provinces will be needed, but opting out of the program will be a tough sell to citizens.
“It will be very difficult for the premier in Alberta to explain to people in Alberta who can’t afford their diabetes medication why they’re turning down an investment that would cover everyone in that province, for their insulin and for their medical devices necessary for diabetes,” Singh said.
“I think that’s going to be something that the premier in Alberta will have to explain to their citizens, why they’re refusing to take action that would save lives, save money for those people, and improve our health-care outcomes.”
With files from CTVNews.ca's Spencer Van Dyk and The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976352.1721854719!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.
Canada's envoy to NYC called to testify about $9M condo purchase on 'Billionaires' Row'
Canada's Consul General in New York will have to explain the government's decision to buy a $9 million condo in Manhattan's famous 'Billionaires' Row,' to a parliamentary committee.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Wildfire north of Calgary prompts evacuation alert, highway closures
A wildfire is prompting evacuations and highway closures north of Calgary.
Price of new housing dipped slightly in June: Statistics Canada
The cost of a new house was slightly cheaper in June compared to May, according to Statistics Canada. Prices dropped 0.2 per cent month-over-month, which is the first time in 2024 that new houses have sold for cheaper than the month prior.
'Inside Out 2' becomes highest-grossing animated movie of all time
If there’s one emotion that Disney and Pixar are probably feeling right now, it’s joy. That’s after movie sequel 'Inside Out 2' became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, raking in US$1.46 billion at the global box office and dethroning former record holder 'Frozen 2' from 2019, according to Disney on Wednesday.
2 wildfires less than 8 km away from Jasper townsite, some structures impacted in national park
As the evacuation order continues for Jasper National Park, officials confirm that some structures in the park have been damaged by fire, but they can't confirm what those structures are.
Parts of DVP, Lake Shore Boulevard briefly flooded as Toronto hit with heavy rain
Thunderstorms rolled through Toronto Wednesday afternoon, bringing heavy rain and causing flash flooding on the Don Valley Parkway (DVP), Lake Shore Boulevard and some downtown subway stations.