Alberta intends to opt out of national pharmacare program: health minister – CTV
Feb. 27, 2024
Alberta’s health minister said the province will be opting out of a national pharmacare program.
The federal NDP announced it reached a deal to table pharmacare framework legislation(opens in a new tab) with the Liberals on Friday.
“If the federal government pursues a national pharmacare program, Alberta intends to opt out of the program, and to instead receive our full per capita share of that funding for deployment into our provincial health-care system,” Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said Monday.
Details of the national deal are expected when legislation is introduced this week. The deal would allow every Canadian with a health card to access free diabetes medication and birth control.
Those medications can cost hundreds of dollars monthly, depending on the level of health-care coverage someone has.
“Insulin is expensive,” said Lisa Hart, who has Type 1 diabetes. “Anywhere $30 to $40 a vial, and everyone’s needs are different. Personally, I go through about three to four vials a month. Some will use more, some less.”
