Andrea Horvat’s NDP will become the first party in Ontario on Monday to unveil its full platform for the 2022 election campaign, with a universal pharmaceutical product as the centerpiece.
The New Democrats will promise coverage for prescription drugs for all Ontario residents if the party forms a government after the June 2 election, CBC News has learned.
Voter representation for pharmacare emphasizes affordability, especially for people who do not have drug benefit plans and have to pay for their drugs. Various studies have shown that rising living costs will be a key issue in the Ontario election.
“Too many Ontario residents have to choose between filling prescriptions or paying bills,” said part of the party’s platform, seen by CBC News.
“The Ontario NDP will act immediately to accelerate pharmacology by ensuring that all Ontario residents have faster coverage of prescription drugs,” said the platform, which sets the program’s net price at $ 475 million.
Horwath will launch the full NDP platform at an event in the Toronto distillery area on Monday morning.
Ontario residents spend at least $ 2.5 billion a year on prescription drugs, according to the Department of Health. (Evan Mitsui / CBC)
At least 2.2 million Ontario residents are uncovered for prescription drugs, according to the provincial government, which costs a total of $ 2.5 billion a year.
“It’s not just a health problem, it’s a major accessibility problem. It’s a practical way to save people money every month, “a senior NDP source told CBC News.
Currently, the province’s Ontario Drug Benefit program covers the cost of prescription drugs for all seniors, regardless of income, as well as for people receiving funding from the Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program.
The previous Liberal government introduced prescription drug coverage for all under 25s in 2017. Prime Minister Doug’s government repealed this in 2018 shortly after taking office, so the province’s coverage for children and young adults now only applies for those without private insurance benefits.
The NDP’s promise of universal pharmaceutical care for Ontario comes as the federal government sets deadlines for moving to a national drug coverage plan. The federal NDP’s agreement to support Justin Trudeau’s government depends in part on the adoption of the Canadian Pharmaceuticals Act by the end of 2023 and a plan for group purchases of drugs by June 2025.
New Democrat federal leader Jagmit Singh, right, “successfully put a national package of drugs back on the country’s agenda,” according to the Ontario NDP’s election platform. But the platform also says Ontario residents “can’t afford to wait five years” until the federal government provides a national prescription drug program. (Sean Kilpatrick / Canadian Press)
“We have decided not to wait for a federal pharmaceutical program,” said a source in the Ontario NDP, adding that Horvat was “committed to taking an active role in the fight for this federal system.”
The source says the mass purchase deals explain why universal pharmaceutical aid will cost only $ 475 million to the provincial government, despite estimates that Ontario residents pay five times more out of pocket for prescription drugs.
Before launching the full provincial pharmacology program, the NDP government will immediately make free special prescriptions, including birth control – a promise announced Thursday by Horwath – as well as cancer drugs.
The NDP also put universal pharmacology in its 2018 election platform.
None of the other parties has indicated when it will launch its full campaign platforms, although Liberals Stephen Del Duca and Mike Schreiner’s Green Party have unveiled several plans.
Meanwhile, Ford and his cabinet ministers have made billions of dollars in government announcements in recent weeks, and many can be expected to be part of Ontario’s PC Party re-election platform.
Add Comment