McGuinty government huge opportunity to bridge growing gulf
Canadians are increasingly being forced to choose between their personal health and their financial future, according to a study released today by the Canadian Council for Integrated Healthcare (CCIH).
The study, entitled: 'I'll just take my medication every other day...,' looked at the patchwork of provincial legislation across Canada. It found the combination of rising drug costs (estimated to have risen 589 per cent from 1985 to 2007) and the recent recession has left many Canadians' financial and physical health at odds. The study cites the fact that one in 12 Canadians say they have not taken necessary medication because of cost.
"The Dalton McGuinty government has the opportunity to help bridge this growing gap through its current review of the Ontario Drug and Benefit Act," says Caroline Brereton, a member of CCIH, an independent healthcare think-tank. "In the face of spiralling drug costs, Premier McGuinty has the chance to improve access to affordable drugs as a basic component of Ontarians health care."
Canadians spent $25 billion on drugs in 2008. After hospitals, it's the most expensive health care cost. As the Ontario Government undertakes a review of the Ontario Drug and Benefit Act (formerly Bill 102), the CCIH is urging the McGuinty Government to deliver a universal plan that:
- Provides incentives or funding to ensure every Ontarian has access to basic coverage for essential drugs to ensure the costs do not exceed 5 per cent of a person's net income. - Enforces a ceiling or maximum on what any patient must pay for prescription drugs. - Increases accountability by developing a more transparent process for decision making on why certain drugs or populations are, or are not, eligible for funding.