The NDP has reached a deal with the Liberal government to introduce the first piece of a national pharmacare program that includes coverage for birth control and diabetes medication, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Friday.
The deal is a critical piece of the supply-and-confidence agreement between the two parties and comes ahead of a March 1 deadline to table legislation. News of the deal was first reported by The Canadian Press.
“Pharmacare means that you will get the medicine you need with your health card, not a credit card,” Singh said on social media while touting the deal.
“Now, millions of Canadians will save money and have better health.”
An NDP source speaking on background to Global News said the deal “satisfies our end” of the supply-and-confidence pact.
Some final details may still be worked out over the weekend, but the source said the NDP expects the legislation will be tabled by the March 1 deadline.
A government source confirmed the deal had been reached and said more details would be announced next week.
The deal also puts forward a fund to help provinces cover the cost of insulin pumps for diabetes patients, which the NDP wanted maximum coverage for, the source said.
All provinces cover 80 per cent of out-of-pocket costs for youth with Type 1 diabetes, but the coverage for adults with Type 2 diabetes varies widely — from zero per cent in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Alberta to a high of 62 per cent in Ontario, data from Diabetes Canada show.
It means that depending on their location households can be out thousands of dollars a year for diabetes medicines and supplies.
Ontario also provides many contraceptives for people under the age of 25 who don’t have private insurance. Manitoba’s government has already pledged to do so as well.
Abortion pills, which are different than morning-after pills, are already offered for free at pharmacies across Canada.
The New Democrats said birth control coverage will help millions of women and gender-diverse people.