No Canadians should go without the treatment they need: Royal College applauds call for national pharmacare plan
OTTAWA, June 13, 2019 – The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is pleased with the federal advisory council’s final report, released yesterday, calling for the implementation of a national pharmacare plan.
“A national pharmacare plan helps bring equity into health care; it will help Canada’s physicians and surgeons provide their patients access to prescription drugs they need, regardless of their ability to pay,” says Dr. Ian M. Bowmer, president of the Royal College.
The Royal College and its Fellows look forward to collaborating with federal, provincial and territorial governments in implementing a national pharmacare plan that is grounded in scientific evidence, clinical effectiveness and appropriateness.
“As a practising hematologist, I often struggle to find affordable prescription drugs for my patients, so I can see the benefits of a national pharmacare plan,” says Dr. Andrew Padmos, chief executive officer at the Royal College. “The Royal College is committed to supporting a national pharmacare plan that is delivered in an equitable, ethical and sustainable fashion.”
In the spirit of self-determination, the Royal College strongly supports recognizing and respecting the knowledge and perspectives of Indigenous peoples throughout the implementation of national pharmacare.
The Royal College calls on all parties to commit to implementing national pharmacare and to engage with us in finding solutions to the challenges that lay ahead.
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The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is the national professional association that oversees the medical education of specialists in Canada. We accredit the university programs that train resident physicians for their specialty practices, and we administer the examinations that residents must pass to become certified as specialists. In collaboration with health organizations and government agencies, the Royal College also plays a role in developing sound health policy in Canada.
For more information, contact:
Melissa Nisbett
Senior Communications Specialist
613-730-8177 ext. 426
613-218-9570
mnisbett@royalcollege.ca
