By: Sofia Chassomeris, News Writer
On October 10, Bill C-64, or the Pharmacare Act, received royal assent and became federal law. The bill works towards a “national pharmacare plan” that will “provide universal, single-payer, first-dollar coverage” across Canada for “specific prescription drugs and related products intended for contraception or the treatment of diabetes.” A group of advocates from the AccessBC campaign “applauds this important step.”
The Peak spoke with Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, AccessBC committee chair and co-founder, for more information about the bill. AccessBC has had “the goal of making all prescription contraception in BC free” since its start in January 2017.
Phelps Bondaroff explained BC already signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the federal government prior to the bill’s royal assent. Signed on September 12, the MOU is a confirmation of the provincial and federal government’s “intention to work together to improve contraception and diabetes coverage for residents of BC.” The MOU also outlined how the Pharmacare Act will expand BC’s current free contraception program, which came into effect in April 2023. “Canadians currently pay for prescription drugs through a mix of private, public, and out-of-pocket plans,” but the new bill promises fully covered contraception and diabetes medication.
“We already have free prescription contraception in BC, so my understanding is that the provincial government [is now] entering into agreement to work on free diabetes medication, which is critically important,” said Phelps Bondaroff. Medications including different types of insulin are life-saving for those with type 1 and 2 diabetes and can cost up to $15,000 annually. In addition to diabetes medication, the MOU also stated BC’s plans to expand the program to include “free treatment of menopausal symptoms with hormone replacement therapy,” which would ensure that people who can get pregnant have access to reproductive health medications throughout their lives.
BC currently has twelve PharmaCare plans to help residents afford prescription medications and medical services. The Fair PharmaCare plan covers a percentage of medical expenses based on income once a family unit has reached a minimum deductible.
“We need to see additional changes and improvements to access to sexual and reproductive health services and contraception in BC,” said Phelps Bondaroff. “This is going to be a transformative policy across the country.”
Phelps Bondaroff said since BC’s implementation of free contraceptives, 252,000 people have been able to access free contraceptives in BC and “exercise reproductive autonomy without having to worry about paywalls.” The amount of people who benefitted from the program “showed that cost is a significant barrier making it hard for people to access contraception.
“Free prescription contraception improves health outcomes, it makes life more affordable, it makes life more equal, and it actually saves government’s money,” added Phelps Bondaroff. BC’s MOU cited a 2010 Options for Sexual Health study, which stated that “every $1 spent on access to contraception can save as much as $90 in government spending” for social programs and support.
Phelps Bondaroff hopes “the next steps would be [to] build toward an actual national pharmacare plan that covers all prescription medication,” but pointed out that “a lot of this depends on the government in power.” He also emphasized that a federal election could have consequences for the future of a potential universal pharmacare plan.
AccessBC has more campaigns across the country that work to increase access to prescription contraception.
