Canada’s pharmacare bill has officially become a reality after it officially passed through the Senate Thursday and received royal assent.
That means many will soon have access to more medications, including those for diabetes and contraception, which are deemed essential and can cost hundreds or thousands out of pocket each year, though specific provincial agreements are still in negotiation.
The legislation, part of the now-defunct political agreement between the Liberals and the NDP, establishes a framework for the creation of any future universal pharmacare plan.
“Today is about pharmacare. It is an incredibly important day for this country,” Health Minister Mark Holland said during a Friday media briefing. “I am not going to say this was easy…. Getting this bill adopted through the House and the Senate was incredibly difficult.”
Now that Bill C-64 is law, the pharmacare plan will provide coverage for certain diabetes treatments and contraception in provinces that reach …