Prescription drug insurance coverage - All Canadians must have access to necessary medications at fair cost FCCQ says

As a participant in the Advisory Council Round Table on the Implementation of a National Pharmacare Plan, the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) believes the plan should be sustainable, effective, and available to all Canadians without imposing any additional cost on citizens or businesses.

“Health is already a major part of the budget and our aging population, along with the emergence of more expensive drugs based on personalized medicine or genetic markers, will only exacerbate the situation,” states FCCQ president and CEO Stéphane Forget. “The FCCQ recommends that the cost of the plan be shared among a number of payers, including public and private plans, employers and patients, in order to ensure its sustainability.”

A mixed-coverage system like this would not require a complete overhaul of the current system and would keep any disruption to a minimum. Such a mixed-coverage system would also allow governments to focus their limited resources on drug coverage for the most vulnerable among us.

“Quebec has had a system in place for over 20 years that covers all Quebecers and has proven to be a model that works well,” adds Stéphane Forget. “In this context, we believe that provincial participation should be voluntary, with compensation from the federal government in the event of any province pulling out.”

By bringing together members representing employers and different sectors of activity such as generic and innovative medicines, insurance, pharmacy owners, and healthcare providers, the FCCQ offers a unique perspective on the sector. “This plurality of viewpoints led to the creation of a working group that has helped us to better appreciate the overall situation,” he said.