National Pharmacare Online Consultation

Thank you for your interest in this consultation with the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare. 

The online consultation is now closed, and written submissions are no longer being accepted. 

In March 2019, the Council provided an interim report to the Minister of Health and the Minister of Finance on the progress of their work.

The Council released its final report in June 2019.

For more information on the Council, please visit the following link: www.canada.ca/pharmacare.

Keep in touch with us via email at pharmacare-assurancemedicaments@canada.ca. 

Sincerely,

Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare


The Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare (the Council) is leading a national consultation on how to implement affordable national pharmacare for Canadians and their families, employers and governments.

We invite you to share your thoughts and ideas on what a national drug plan could look like. There are a number of ways to participate. You can read the Discussion Paper which outlines some of the key issues and provide a written submission via email or mail. We also encourage you to participate in the online discussion forum below. As well, you can also complete the online questionnaire. Please bookmark this page and check back regularly.

Prior to participating in this consultation, please review the Privacy Notice for more information on your privacy rights.


The Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare (the Council) is leading a national consultation on how to implement affordable national pharmacare for Canadians and their families, employers and governments.

We invite you to share your thoughts and ideas on what a national drug plan could look like. There are a number of ways to participate. You can read the Discussion Paper which outlines some of the key issues and provide a written submission via email or mail. We also encourage you to participate in the online discussion forum below. As well, you can also complete the online questionnaire. Please bookmark this page and check back regularly.

Prior to participating in this consultation, please review the Privacy Notice for more information on your privacy rights.


Discussions: All (4) Open (0)

  • Paying for Prescription Drugs

    by John , about 6 years ago
    226 Responses
    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    You need to be signed in to add your comment.

    Canadians who are currently covered by a drug insurance plan contribute to the costs of their prescription drugs in a number of ways. Common methods include through making ‘co-payments’ (e.g., paying for a certain percentage of the cost of their prescription at the pharmacy) or through paying deductibles or annual fees (e.g., premiums) toward their drug coverage plan.

    What are benefits and drawbacks of individuals paying a portion of the cost of their prescription drugs? Share your thoughts below:

  • Deciding What Drugs Will Be Covered

    by John , over 6 years ago
    332 Responses
    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    You need to be signed in to add your comment.

    Pharmacare is a system of health insurance that provides people with access to necessary prescription drugs. The scope of drugs eligible for coverage through a pharmacare plan can vary.

    One approach would be to limit coverage to those prescription drugs for which there is good evidence of both effectiveness and value-for-money. This approach would result in a less costly plan, but provide fewer options for some patients. 

    Another approach would be to expand the list of covered drugs to include those for which there is less evidence of value-for-money, e.g., to include higher-cost drugs that may have little clinical evidence supporting how well they work. This approach would result in a more costly plan, but provide more options for some patients.

    How extensive a selection of drugs should be covered under a national pharmacare program? Share your thoughts below:

  • Deciding Who Will Be Covered and Under What Conditions

    by John , over 6 years ago
    329 Responses
    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    You need to be signed in to add your comment.

    Pharmacare is a system of health insurance that provides people with access to necessary prescription drugs. National pharmacare could be structured to cover the drug costs of all Canadians, regardless of their ability to pay (like Canada’s insurance coverage for doctor and hospital care). Alternatively, it could be ‘means-tested’ and provide coverage for individuals only when their drug costs exceed a certain percentage of their income.

    Which approach do you think is preferable and why? Share your thoughts below:


  • Objectives of a National Pharmacare Program

    by John , over 6 years ago
    472 Responses
    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    You need to be signed in to add your comment.

    Pharmacare is a system of health insurance that provides people with access to necessary prescription drugs. Its design can be determined by a number of factors, including which population groups are targeted, which types of drugs are covered, and how it is financed.

    Most Canadians have some form of prescription drug coverage, but the terms of coverage vary considerably, leaving many households facing cost barriers when they have prescriptions to fill.

    What do you feel should be the objectives of a national pharmacare program for Canadians? Share your thoughts below: