Liberal, NDP pharmacare bill passed

Photo: Justin Tang The Canadian Press “This will transform the lives of millions of Canadians,” Health Minister Mark Holland said.

Laura Osman – The Canadian Press in Ottawa

Published yesterday at 9:08 p.m.

• Canada

The pharmacare bill, which was at the heart of a political pact between the Liberals and the New Democratic Party (NDP), became law Thursday after the Senate passed it without amendments. The vote was quickly followed by royal assent Thursday night.

The legislation will inform the creation of any future national, universal pharmacare plan. It will also allow the government to sign agreements with provinces and territories to cover diabetes drugs and birth control through the public health care system.

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“This is going to transform the lives of millions of Canadians,” Health Minister Mark Holland said in a video posted to social media Thursday night after the vote.

It’s a huge day for ????????!

Our national pharmacare plan received royal assent – meaning we are one step closer to getting Canadians the diabetes medication and contraceptives they need. pic.twitter.com/QA5HEpIOFk

— Mark Holland (@markhollandlib) October 10, 2024

The wording and content of the bill were carefully negotiated as part of the now-defunct supply and confidence agreement between the NDP and the Liberals.

“This is something Tommy Douglas always envisioned when he pushed for universal health care over half a century ago,” NDP health critic Peter Julian said Thursday. “Canada is the only country with universal health care that doesn’t have universal pharmacare.” »

British Columbia has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Ottawa to launch the diabetes and birth control drug program in that province.

Minister Holland hopes to have all provinces and territories on board by next spring.

“Provinces like British Columbia and Manitoba have already expressed interest, which means agreements should be signed quickly and drugs should start to be covered,” Julian said.

The new legislation calls for the government to convene an expert panel in the coming month to study the next steps in establishing a full-fledged pharmacare program. The panel will have one year to provide its recommendations to the health minister.