US EditionB.C. Residents Access to Diabetes, Hormone Drugs Expands with Move to National PharmaCare
British Columbia's new PharmaCare program offers free diabetes and menopause medications to over 660,000 residents, backed by $670 million in federal funding.
- The national PharmaCare program begins in British Columbia on Sunday, offering free access to diabetes and menopausal medications, called `a game changer` by officials.
- The provincial and federal governments signed a four-year agreement last year that includes $670 million in federal funding to implement the initiative.
- Coverage will be processed at every pharmacy in B.C. like other PharmaCare plans, with no new registration for B.C.'s Medical Service Plan enrollees, fully covering eligible medications for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, contraceptives and menopausal hormone therapy.
- For patients, the immediate effect is reduced cost-related trade-offs, benefiting more than half a million residents with diabetes and about 160,000 with menopausal symptoms, according to Josie Osborne, Health Minister.
- Semaglutide injections such as Ozempic are excluded for now; Dr. Dale Clayton is optimistic despite current coverage gaps, while the Canadian patent expiry for Ozempic in January 2026 could allow cheaper generics.
16 Articles
16 Articles
National pharmacare program to begin in B.C. on March 1, expanding access to diabetes, hormone drugs
B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne says the funding is a game changer and will benefit more than half a million residents who are living with diabetes and about 160,000 people with menopausal symptoms.
The Toronto Star
Move to national PharmaCare expands B.C. residents access to diabetes, hormone drugs
VICTORIA - The national PharmaCare program will start in British Columbia on Sunday, giving residents free access to a variety of diabetes medications and menopausal hormone therapy.
BC Pharmacare Plan launches March 1 | Columbia Valley, Cranbrook, East Kootenay, Elk Valley, Kimberley, Ktunaxa Nation
The BC PharmaCare National Pharmacare Plan launches for provincial residents on Sunday, March 1. The plan will cover the full cost of many diabetes medications and menopausal hormone therapy Nearly 570,000 British Columbians living with diabetes will be supported, as well as approximately 160,000 people with menopausal symptoms “This is a game changer for people who will now be able to access vital medications without worrying about how much the…
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