Canadians to pay less for prescription drugs with Tom Mulcair

Universal prescription drug plan will lower prices and provide better coverage

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair announced today his plan to work with provinces to make prescription drugs more affordable, by supporting universal prescription drug coverage and controlling drug costs through bulk purchasing.

“Canadians are paying too much for prescription drugs because Stephen Harper’s plan isn’t working,” said Mulcair. “Our health care priorities will lower the price Canadians have to pay for their prescriptions and help all Canadians cover those costs with better coverage.”

Under Stephen Harper, Canadians are now paying $6 billion a year on prescription drugs – 62 per cent more than in 2006. Ten percent of Canadians cannot afford to take the drugs prescribed by their doctors.

Working with the provinces, an NDP government will invest $2.6 billion over four years, with the goal of providing universal access to prescription drug coverage.

The NDP will also target a 30 per cent average reduction in the cost of prescription drugs to provinces and individuals through bulk purchasing programs and collaboration with provinces. This will generate as much as $3 billion in savings for provinces through their own drug coverage programs.

“Canadian families should never have to choose between food and medicine,” said Mulcair. “That’s why my goal will be to see all Canadians have prescription drug coverage once and for all.”