Canadians will continue overspending on medication due to government inaction

More than 5 years after the federal government promised action on drug pricing, it’s time to end the delays.

We’re calling on the federal government to move forward with new regulations on patent medication pricing. Canadians, including Public Service Health Care Plan members, continue to pay exorbitant prices for their medication until these regulations are implemented.

President Debi Daviau wrote to Health Minister Patty Hajdu to remind the government of how important this issue is to PIPSC members.

READ THE LETTER

The regulatory review should have been implemented in 2020. Due to political inaction, the rules will come into force in 2022 at the earliest, a needless delay.

PIPSC members, many of whom work in health care, know how important it is to access required medication at a fair price. With tighter regulations on drug pricing, Canadians will pay less for their medication, a change that will be especially important to families without private health care plans.


Regulating prescription medication pricing is a first step in the right direction. Next, we need a national pharmacare program, so that no one has to choose between their medication and their groceries.


27 February 2018
With “tax season” fast approaching, the government has recently updated the information available online regarding three types of financial claims linked to the Phoenix pay system: requesting an advance for government benefits; reimbursement for tax advice; and claims for out-of-pocket expenses.

20 February 2018
Last week I was invited to meet with the Cabinet level working group on the Phoenix pay system to discuss potential solutions. I last met with the Cabinet committee in June 2017 and since then we have sadly seen little to no progress – in fact the problems continue to mount.

12 February 2018
On February 6, 2018 PIPSC President Debi Daviau led a dozen-strong Institute delegation to Ottawa’s Parliament Hill as part of the Canadian Labour Congress’ (CLC) annual Lobby Day.

9 February 2018
February 5, 2018 The 55 unions represented on the Canadian Council of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) recognize without exception that when one of our affiliates is attacked, our movement is attacked.

2 February 2018
On January 29, 2018, PIPSC President Debi Daviau met with Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier for the first time at the Canada Revenue Agency headquarters in Ottawa.  

1 February 2018
I recently wrote to Treasury Board President Scott Brison to express my frustration at being informed that the government is very likely not going to be able to process overpayment claims reported by the January 19, 2018 deadline.