Committee will provide practical advice on next phases of pharmacare

November 14, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada

Everyone in Canada deserves access to the medications they need, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay. No Canadian should have to choose between purchasing the medications that keep them healthy and putting food on the table, which is why the Government introduced the Pharmacare Act.

Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced the establishment of the Committee of Experts which will recommend options on how to operate and finance a national, universal, single-payer pharmacare program in Canada. The Committee will include:

• Dr. Nav Persaud (Chair);
• Dr. Stéphane Ahern;
• Amy Lamb;
• Dr. Steve Morgan; and,
• Linda Silas.

Over the next year, the Committee will offer advice and guidance on the path towards national pharmacare in Canada. As part of its work, they will engage with and consider perspectives from provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous groups, and experts in relevant fields including, but not limited to public and private drug plan administrators, patients, health care providers, industry, business, labour and academics.

The Committee will provide a written report to the Minister setting out its recommendations by October 10, 2025, which the Minister will table in Parliament.

The Government of Canada is committed to working with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples and other partners and stakeholders to improve access to prescription medications for all Canadians. Discussions for bilateral agreements with provinces and territories on universal coverage of contraception and diabetes medications are underway.

Passing the Pharmacare Act was a crucial step forward to improve health equity and affordability and will result in long-term savings to the health care system.