Manitoba 1st province to strike pharmacare deal with federal government [Video]

Manitoba has become the first province to sign a pharmacare agreement with the federal government.

The province will be getting $219 million over four years for universal coverage for diabetes medication, contraceptives and other medical supplies.

Coverage for most of the products in the agreement will begin in June, it said. Manitoba already covers the cost of birth control.

The agreement will help close gaps in the health-care system, federal Health Minister Mark Holland said Thursday during the announcement at the Women’s Health Clinic in Winnipeg.

WATCH | Minister defends timeline of Manitoba pharmacare deal:

After announcing Manitoba is the first province to sign a pharmacare agreement with the federal government, Health Minister Mark Holland is asked why the coverage is not starting until the beginning of June.

“I want 100 years from now people to look back at this moment and say, ‘This is where it started,’ the journey of making sure everybody got the medication that they …