Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare

The Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare (the Council) was announced in Budget 2018. The Council led a national dialogue on how to implement affordable national pharmacare for Canadians and their families, employers and governments.

The Council's final report was delivered in June of 2019 and included recommendations as to what measures the federal government should take. This advice will be considered by the Government of Canada on how to best implement national pharmacare.

Latest News

A Prescription for Canada: Achieving Pharmacare for All

The final report of the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare

News release on the Council report

News release issued by the Council on release of its final report

About the Advisory Council

Advisory Council Mandate

Terms of Reference for the Council

Advisory Council Member Biographies

Background information on Council members

Summary of Interests and Affiliations

 

To develop its advice on national pharmacare implementation, the Council:

  • conducted an economic and social assessment of domestic and international models
  • worked closely with provincial, territorial and Indigenous leaders
  • consulted with Canadians, as well as experts and stakeholders from relevant fields

A discussion paper was developed to help frame the Council’s work. The paper provided an overview of Canada’s current system of drug coverage and its challenges. It also identified some key questions that helped guide the Council’s dialogue with Canadians.

In March 2019, the Council provided an interim report to the Minister of Health and the Minister of Finance on the progress of their work.

About the Council's consultation

The consultation (now closed) invited Canadians to share their ideas and views about national pharmacare by:

  • visiting the Council’s online consultation platform  
  • sending a written submission via email or mail
  • completing an online questionnaire

The input gathered informed the Council’s advice to the Government on how to best implement national pharmacare.

The Council engaged Canadians across the country as part of their work and published a What We Heard Report.

For more information

The following additional documentation is available upon request:

  1. Evaluating national pharmacare options: existing policies across Canada by Dr. Steven Morgan
  2. Evaluating national pharmacare options: evidence from comparable countries by Dr. Steven Morgan
  3. Cost-related barriers to prescription drug access in Canada by Dr. Michael Law
  4. A sex and gender-based analysis plus on the implementation of national pharmacare in Canada by Dr. Cara Tannenbaum
  5. Burden and health care system costs associated with cost-related non-adherence to dedications for selected chronic conditions in Canada by Dr. Robyn Tamblyn et al.
  6. Report of CADTH’s ad hoc primary care and specialist national formulary panel by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
  7. Regional roundtable and community dialogue session reports by Ipsos Public Affairs and the Canadian Patient Safety Institute

Requests for these documents should be directed to the Office of Pharmaceutical Management Strategies.

Contact

Office of Pharmaceutical Management Strategies 
Strategic Policy Branch
Health Canada
Brooke Claxton Building
70 Colombine Driveway
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9

Email: pharmacare-assurancemedicaments@canada.ca

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