Take action and call for a national pharmacare plan

When patients can’t afford their medicines, nurses are often the first to see the negative impacts on health.

After years of campaigning by nurses unions for national, universal pharmacare, Canadian nurses are thrilled to support the launch of the Canadian Labour Congress’ campaign, Pharmacare: a plan for everyone.

The Canadian Federtaion of Nurses Unions urges Canadians to take action now to join the unified voices of unionized workers across Canada who are calling for action on pharmacare.

Pharmacare is a common sense solution to high prescription drug costs and financial barriers to accessing medicines:

• Canada wasted $62 billion health care dollars in 10 years without pharmacare.
• Nearly one in four Canadian households report members not having the money to take prescription medicines as they are prescribed.
• Canada is the only industrialized country with universal medicare that does not have universal coverage for prescription medicines.
• Canada’s nurses proudly advocate for a strong public health care system and better care for patients. By implementing a pharmacare plan for everyone, Canada will bring down inflated prescription drug prices while ensuring prescription drugs are accessible to all Canadians, regardless of income.

As Canadian economist Hugh Mackenzie said, “Politically, [pharmacare] should be a no-brainer – eliminate waste and deliver better service.” Nurses agree. And that is why we will continue to call on the federal government to implement pharmacare without delay. It’s time for action.

Take action now to tell federal members of Parliament, the Minister of Health and the Prime Minister to begin the work of implementing Pharmacare: a plan for everyone.