Drug prices are too high!?

While provinces are attached to reducing prices of drugs, the driver of cost is utilization. Many Canadians do not have drug insurance benefits and those that do find themselves covering many costs out-of-pocket. We’re seeing a number of patients suffer while misinformation about drug costs spreads, the pharmaceutical industry is vilified and government inaction on the issue continues.

A number of studies of Canada’s health systems have recognized the need for national drug benefits and a coherent pharmaceutical care system, and there is a continual push for integrating services including pharmaceuticals. A growing challenge across the country will be to change the system before the high cost of political ineptitude threatens the sustainability of health care.