US EditionPharmacare advisory committee report set to be made public
The advisory committee urges federal funding of an essential medicines list costing $6 to $10 billion to ensure universal single-payer pharmacare through existing government drug plans.
- On Nov. 21, 2025, an expert advisory committee recommended Ottawa fully fund essential medicines and pass new legislation to define a national single-payer pharmacare program, The Canadian Press reported.
- Set up last fall after the Pharmacare Act, the committee recommends a comprehensive national framework, rejecting a fill-the-gaps approach, with costs estimated between $6 and $10 billion.
- Rejecting a fill-the-gaps model, the report recommends against covering only people without private insurance while assessing operating and financing options for national pharmacare.
- Cost projections differ, with the committee estimating between $6 and $10 billion, while the PBO 2023 report estimates $11.2 billion more than current spending.
- Creating an essential medicines list would allow Ottawa to avoid negotiating bilateral deals with provinces and territories and deliver pharmacare through existing government drug plans so Canadians access free medicines with health cards.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Canada should create a drug insurance system that provides free access to essential drugs to anyone with a health insurance card and allows private insurance to continue to play a role, according to a report by a committee of experts published on Friday.
Expert report calls on Ottawa to fund essential medicines, enshrine pharmacare in law
OTTAWA — Canada should create a pharmacare system that offers free access to essential medicines to anyone with a health card and allows private insurance to continue playing a role, an expert committee report recommended on Friday.
Expert report calls on Ottawa to fund essential medicines, enshrine pharmacare in law
OTTAWA — Canada should create a pharmacare system that offers free access to essential medicines to anyone with a health card and allows private insurance to continue playing a role, an expert committee report recommended on Friday.
Expert report calls on Ottawa to fund essential medicines, enshrine pharmacare in law
OTTAWA — Canada should create a pharmacare system that offers free access to essential medicines to anyone with a health card and allows private insurance to continue playing a role, an expert committee report recommended on Friday.
Expert report calls on Ottawa to fund essential medicines, enshrine pharmacare in law
OTTAWA — Canada should create a pharmacare system that offers free access to essential medicines to anyone with a health card and allows private insurance to continue playing a role, an expert committee report recommended on Friday.
Expert report calls on Ottawa to fund essential medicines, enshrine pharmacare in law
OTTAWA — An expert advisory committee is recommending the federal government fully fund essential medicines for all Canadians and pass new legislation that clearly defines how a national pharmacare program will work.
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