Photo: Reuters

When Mark Carney became Prime Minister of Canada, he promised that health care would be one of his government’s main priorities. This week, he repeated that promise by announcing that his government will push forward with new pharmacare deals. Pharmacare means that the government helps cover the cost of prescription drugs so people don’t have to pay too much out of their own pocket.

Carney said the federal government will now work with every province and territory to sign agreements. These agreements will make sure Canadians across the country can afford their medicines. For many Canadians, this is very good news. The cost of medicine has been a big problem for years, and families often struggle to pay for drugs that doctors say they need.

Why Pharmacare Is Important

Prescription drugs are an essential part of health care. If someone has diabetes, they may need insulin. If someone has heart problems, they might need blood-pressure medication. People with mental health conditions often depend on medicine too.

But in Canada, unlike doctor visits or hospital care, not all prescription drugs are fully covered by the government. Provinces have their own plans, but these plans are different from one province to another. For example:

• Some provinces cover many medicines but only for seniors and low-income families.
• Other provinces cover fewer medicines, so people still need private insurance or must pay from their own pocket.
• Some people without jobs or private insurance end up paying very high costs.

Studies have shown that about 1 in 5 Canadians sometimes skip their medications or cut their pills in half because they cannot afford the full cost. This is dangerous. If people do not take their medicine correctly, their health problems can get worse, leading to hospital visits that are even more costly.

Carney said his goal is to reduce this inequality and make sure people can access the medicines they need, no matter where they live in Canada.

Carney’s Plan

• Prime Minister Carney explained that his government will:
• Work with every province and territory to create agreements.
• Share the costs of prescription drug programs with provinces.
• Focus first on essential medicines, such as those for diabetes, heart disease, mental health, and cancer treatment.
• Expand over time, so more drugs will be included in coverage.
• Carney also noted that his government is not trying to replace provincial health systems. Instead, Ottawa will support provinces financially and help design fairer rules.

First Deals Already in Place

Earlier this year, the federal government signed its first pharmacare agreements with a few provinces. These agreements were smaller pilot projects focusing on certain medicines, like diabetes drugs and birth control.

The idea was to test the system before expanding it nationwide. According to Carney, these first steps showed promising results. More people were able to afford their drugs, and fewer had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine.

Now, Carney said it is time to expand these deals and include more provinces and territories.

Challenges in Negotiations

Even though Carney is optimistic, experts warn that making deals with all provinces will not be easy. Here are some of the main challenges:

Different Priorities – Each province has its own health challenges. For example, Alberta may want more focus on cancer drugs, while Quebec may push for mental health coverage.

Budgets – Some provinces worry that pharmacare could cost too much money. They want Ottawa to pay a larger share. Carney’s government must convince them that costs will be shared fairly.

Drug Prices – The price of some medicines is very high. Negotiating with drug companies to bring down prices will be a key step.

Politics – Some provincial leaders, especially conservative ones, may resist new national programs if they think Ottawa is interfering too much. Carney will need to show respect for provincial control.

How Pharmacare Could Help Families

• If pharmacare deals succeed, the benefits for Canadian families could be huge:
• Lower Costs: Families would not have to choose between buying groceries and paying for medicine.
• Better Health: More people would take their medicine correctly, leading to fewer hospital visits.
• Fairness: People in poorer provinces would get the same support as people in richer provinces.
• Less Stress: Families would feel more secure knowing their loved ones can afford essential drugs.
• Carney said the main goal is peace of mind for Canadians. Health should not depend on how much money someone has or where they live.

Voices of Support

Many health experts and patient groups have praised Carney’s announcement. They say that Canada has needed a stronger pharmacare program for many years.

For example, doctors have said that patients sometimes show up at clinics with worsened conditions simply because they did not take their medicine. A national pharmacare plan could prevent this.

Unions and workers’ organizations also support the plan. They argue that many workers in low-paying jobs do not get private insurance for medicine. Pharmacare would give them security.

Voices of Concern

At the same time, some critics are cautious. Opposition politicians have warned that pharmacare could become very expensive for taxpayers if not managed carefully.

Some provincial leaders also worry that Ottawa will try to control too much of health policy. They want to make sure provinces keep the power to decide what works best locally.

Carney responded by saying he is open to flexible agreements. This means provinces can design their programs in ways that fit their needs, as long as the main goal of fair access is achieved.

International Examples

• Other countries have shown that national pharmacare systems can work. For example:
• United Kingdom: Medicines are provided at very low cost under the National Health Service (NHS).
• Australia: The government negotiates with drug companies to keep prices down, and most citizens get affordable medicines.
• Carney said Canada can learn from these systems while still designing a model that fits Canadian realities.

The Road Ahead

• The next step for the government is to begin formal talks with provinces and territories. These talks will cover questions like:
• Which medicines should be included first?
• How much money will Ottawa contribute?
• How can drug prices be kept under control?

Carney admitted that this will take time. He said Canadians should not expect the entire system to be ready overnight. Instead, it will be built step by step, starting with the most urgent needs.

Why Now?

Some Canadians wonder why pharmacare is becoming a priority now. Carney explained that health care is under great pressure after the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people lost jobs and benefits, leaving them without drug coverage. At the same time, the cost of medicines has continued to rise.

Carney believes that now is the right time to take bold action. He said the government’s responsibility is to protect Canadians and ensure equal access to health services.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s promise to expand pharmacare agreements marks a significant moment for Canadian health care. By planning to sign deals with every province and territory, his government is taking steps to reduce the financial burden of medicines on families.

While challenges remain, the goal is clear: no Canadian should ever have to go without the medicine they need because of cost.

If Carney succeeds, pharmacare could become one of the most important achievements of his government. It would not only improve health but also strengthen fairness across the country.