Urgent pharmacare vote at parliament
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 17 February 2021 05:36
- Written by editor
Dear Friend,
In 2021, while powerful pharmaceutical companies earn billions in profit, one in five Canadians still cannot afford their prescription drugs. Many thousands of Canadians are choosing between paying for essential prescriptions and paying for food or their homes.
People should not have to worry about whether they can afford their medications – especially during a global pandemic. As millions of Canadians are losing their jobs, many are also losing access to employer-paid benefits plans. This makes public, universal pharmacare more urgent than ever.
In the last year, we’ve heard from people across the country who are calling for universal pharmacare. Thousands of Council supporters like you sent letters to Health Minister Hajdu and Prime Minister Trudeau.
You and I know that pharmacare for all is a vital part of universal health care. When people can’t afford their medication, they can suffer acute health issues that take them to the emergency room – and when hospitals are already overcrowded due to COVID-19, the government should be doing everything in its power to keep people healthy and at home.
After many years of advocacy, it seems like the government finally agrees – in the throne speech last fall, the government promised to accelerate a national, universal pharmacare program.
Now, we have an important opportunity to make pharmacare a reality. Will you email your MP today? Take action The Canada Pharmacare Act, a private member’s bill from MP Peter Julian is coming up for second debate today, on February 17, and will be voted on February 24.
Modelled off the Canada Health Act, the bill would establish a universal, single-payer, comprehensive and public pharmacare plan.
The upcoming vote on Bill C-213 is an opportunity for all MPs to commit to universal pharmacare. Your voice is crucial in ensuring that the government takes this important next step to realizing pharmacare.
Email your MP today. Send your email Canadians are united in favour of pharmacare, with 86 per cent supporting a national pharmacare plan according to an Angus Reid poll conducted last fall. But that doesn’t mean corporate players support making prescriptions affordable and accessible to everyone – and we’ve already seen pharmaceutical company Pfizer demand “reconsideration” of changes to Canada’s patented drug pricing rates put forward by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board.
Our drug costs have quadrupled in the last two decades and far too many people are unable to afford the medicine they need — resulting in unnecessary suffering and eventually, higher healthcare costs. The best way to even this playing field is to establish a national pharmacare program in Canada.
Thanks for everything you do.
In solidarity,
Christina Warner
Director of Campaigns and Organizing r71 | Add us to your address book
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