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For many Canadians, the advancing years come with a host of health issues that need to be treated with medications. Yet a combination of high medication costs and insufficient drug coverage can not only leave older adults worse off financially – it can put their health at risk, says Wanda Morris, vice-president, Advocacy, at CARP, an association dedicated to promoting the well-being of older Canadians.
A recent survey shows that, on average, CARP members take four medications, and 11 per cent take more than eight, says Morris. Most of Canada’s seniors have some medication coverage, but that varies from province to province and may be inadequate.
The result? “Eight per cent of our members say they struggle to afford their medications,” says Morris, adding that Canada is the only industrialized country that has a universal health-care system, but no universal pharmacare program.
“There is a compelling moral rationale for us to ensure that people have access to the mediations they need,” she says. “There is also a compelling business reason.”
A number of recent studies assert that a national pharmacare program would result in cost savings for Canadians, says Morris. “The most conservative study, done by the parliamentary budget officer, estimates annual savings of $4.2-billion.”
Cost savings would mainly come from a consolidated purchasing system, she explains. “Right now, we have over 100 public plans, while some Canadians are covered through private plans and others pay for medication directly.”
This fragmented purchasing system, where buyers outnumber sellers, means that pharmaceutical companies can set the price. Canadians currently pay the second highest prices in the world for medications for common conditions, says Morris, who believes having one national purchaser would lead to significantly lower prices.
An example comes from Pharmacare 2020, a UBC Pharmaceutical Policy Research Collaboration study that determined that in New Zealand, where a public authority negotiates prices on behalf of the entire nation, a year’s supply of the drug Lipitor costs $15. In comparison, the same drug, used for lowering cholesterol levels, costs at least $811 per year in Canada.
Due to high medication costs, Canadians sometimes skip filling a prescription, says Morris. “Among our membership, six per cent reported instances where they didn’t get their medications during the past two years because of costs,” says Morris. “This can lead to complications and hospitalizations, which are more expensive for the health-care system.”
This content produced by Randall Anthony Communications. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved in its creation.