It's Time to Finally Kill the Zombies Comment on "Universal Pharmacare in Canada".

Joel Lexchin

doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2020.03

Abstract

The movement for a national pharmacare plan in Canada is growing, but at the same time the multinational pharmaceutical companies and their supporters are critical of such a move. The three major arguments that they make are that all that is needed is to "fill in the gaps," ie, cover those who currently are uninsured or underinsured, that private drug plans are superior to public ones because they cover a larger number of drugs and that Canada cannot afford pharmacare. This commentary examines each of these arguments and makes the case that none of them is valid and that it is time to get on with implementing pharmacare.

Highlights

What these naysayers want is for Canada to continue with its mix of public and private payment that leaves the country with an annual per capita drug expenditure of US$806 against an OECD average of US$564
The movement for a national pharmacare plan in Canada is growing, but at the same time the multinational pharmaceutical companies and their supporters are critical of such a move
The three major arguments that they make are that all that is needed is to “fill in the gaps,” ie, cover those who currently are uninsured or underinsured, that private drug plans are superior to public ones because they cover a larger number of drugs and that Canada cannot afford pharmacare

Summary

Introduction

What these naysayers want is for Canada to continue with its mix of public and private (insurance and out-of-pocket) payment that leaves the country with an annual per capita drug expenditure of US$806 against an OECD average of US$564.

Results

Conclusion