Were fighting for pharmacare – join us?
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00
- Written by editor
Dear friend,
I spent part of last week in Ottawa, where I was part of a press conference1 announcing the Fight for Pharmacare Alliance, and I want to ask you to join in.
I travelled back to Halifax with Bill Swan, a long-time pharmacare advocate who was also a part of the press conference. Bill has been talking to people who struggle to afford their medication in a project called Faces of Pharmacare2 – the stories are staggering.
Public, single-payer pharmacare would truly be life-changing for 3.4 million people in Canada who can’t afford to take their medication as prescribed, and the millions more for whom high drug prices are an incredible financial burden.
Since March, when the Liberals and NDP promised to deliver pharmacare legislation in 2023, Big Pharma and insurance industry lobbyists opposed to pharmacare have met with federal government officials 150 times – about 3 or 4 times per week.3
It’s never been clearer to me that the reason the Liberals haven’t implemented pharmacare yet isn’t the cost or the complexity – it’s that this government is representing the pharmaceutical and insurance industry, not people.
We need public, single-payer pharmacare and we need it now.
People in Canada deserve health care based on what they need, not whether they can pay. We know our health care system is already under threat from a new wave of privatization and decades of spending cuts. Pharmacare would provide people with the medicine they need and would help reduce costs on our hospitals by bringing down drug prices.
Now, we need to fight back against powerful corporate lobbying interests and demand the biggest expansion of the public health care system in 50 years – public, single-payer pharmacare.
Will you sign the pledge to fight for pharmacare? This will help us show the federal government how many people we represent and help us get in touch with you about upcoming events in your area.
In solidarity,
Robin Tress
Co-Executive Director, Director of Campaigns
The Council of Canadians
- Video: Fight for Pharmacare Alliance News Conference, February 9, 2023
- Website: Faces Of Pharmacare
- Download: Research brief on pharmaceutical lobbying of the federal government
Membership Builds Our Movement
The Council of Canadians has proudly reinstated an open membership structure. We invite you to become a member by making at least a $1 contribution to cover your annual membership fee.
Copyright © 2023 Council of Canadians, All rights reserved.You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website, one of our campaigns, or at one of our events.
1-800-387-7177
Council of Canadians200-240 Bank StOttawa, ON K2P 1X4 Canada
r34.
