Alberta intends to opt out of national pharmacare plan

globalnews.ca:

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 but it appears Alberta does not intend to be part of the agreement.It’s a critical piece of the supply-and-confidence agreement between the two parties and comes ahead of a March 1 deadline to table legislation. Some final details may still be worked out but the Alberta government says it plans to opt out.Dr.

Rupindeer Toor started a petition last year aimed at advocating for federal universal access to free prescription contraception. Toor is the medical director & founder of The IUD & Women’s Clinic in Calgary.When the news came out on Friday of a federal pharmacare deal that is to include full coverage for contraceptives, she was thrilled.“The people who are struggling to afford contraception would struggle to support a child as well, so I think it comes down to prevention, which is always going to be cheaper,” Toor said on Sunday.Toor is also the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Project EmpoweHER.