[Viva] FW: Press Release: Universal Catastrophic Drug Coverage: a necessity for Canadians

[Tami Starlight]

From: Jennifer [mailto:jennifer at ctac.ca] 
Sent: December-01-10 4:19 AM
To: admin at ctac.ca
Subject: Press Release: Universal Catastrophic Drug Coverage: a necessity
for Canadians

 


Universal Catastrophic Drug Coverage: a necessity for Canadians


Canadians need access to life-saving prescription medications

December 1, 2010

For Immediate Release

 

TORONTO – All Canadians deserve equal access to necessary medications.
“Presently, in Canada there is a patchwork quilt of coverage, differing from
province to province, the territories, federally and for both private and
public coverage.” said Louise Binder, Chair, Canadian Treatment Action
Council (CTAC).  “The differences include populations covered, conditions
for coverage, as well as the medications covered.”  These disparities leave
some people with no coverage, so they either go into debt or to do without
required medications.  A universal Catastrophic Drug Coverage program for
Canadians will act as a safety net to protect and ensure that all Canadians
needing medications will receive them.” said Richard Baker, Vice-Chair,
CTAC.

While many HIV and HIV/Hepatitis co-infected people have coverage for these
drugs, it is not true across Canada.  In addition, people in these
populations require other medications to deal with co-morbidities, drug side
effects and toxicities and premature aging.

On World AIDS Day, CTAC calls on all levels of government and other health
care stakeholders to come together to reach an agreement to implement a
Universal Catastrophic Drug program as recommended by the 2002 Romanow
Commission¹ and the 2006 Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministerial Task
Force on the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy². 

 

2010 is coming to an end and no action has been taken by Canadian
governments to realize this commitment.  We urge the Health Ministers to add
this to the agenda of their next meeting set for December 2010.   

 

CTAC, in partnership with other consumer and patient organizations is
preparing a detailed plan for Universal Catastrophic Drug coverage for
consideration by governments and other health care stakeholders to make sure
the program is driven by patient communities and reflects the needs of
Canadians from across the country. It will be made public shortly.

 

-30-

Media Enquiries

Louise Binder    416-457-3179
Béatrice Cardin 647-330-0114                 

Resources 

1.	Final Report, Romanow Commission:
http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/CP32-85-2002E.pdf (see chapter 9)
2.	Progress Report, federal/provincial/territorial Ministerial Task
Force on the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/pubs/pharma/2006-nps-snpp/index-eng.php  (see
page 29)                      

                        

CTAC Logo Eng 288 full small.jpg

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