The Globe and Mail, April 05, 2011
Canada might not have a national catastrophic drug program, but there are plenty of international models the federal government could look to should it ever decide to adopt one. Canada is one of the only developed countries that doesn’t have a national catastrophic program to prevent citizens who don’t have insurance from spending exorbitant amounts of money on prescription drugs. Without such a system, Canadians must pay out-of-pocket for necessary medications, forcing many deep into debt while others risk bankruptcy to pay for drugs. Some simply go without medication, leading to serious health problems. It’s a black eye for a country that prides itself on universal health care, and medical experts have been calling for the creation of a comprehensive program for years. To read the full article, click here