"It was touted as a historic move that would change lives: in October 2024, Canada passed new legislation making all birth control free. Justin Trudeau, then prime minister, called the bill's passing real progress. The leftwing New Democratic party took credit, saying they had convinced Trudeau's governing Liberals to move ahead with it. The bill didn't just cover birth control: it made diabetes medication free, too, and ushered in a legal framework to possibly cover all prescription medication in the future: a national pharmacare plan."
"We dreamed of making sure our health-care system included medication coverage. And now, pharmacare is the law of the land, the NDP's then-leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters. The bill seemed to underline just how progressive Canada had become, coming into force just weeks before Donald Trump was re-elected, and two years after the US supreme court eliminated any constitutional right to abortion."
"It is perplexing that we haven't had more immediate and enthusiastic uptake of the pharmacare plan, said Angel Foster, a health sciences professor at the University of Ottawa who specializes in women's health. People have been demanding [free contraception] for a long time."
Canada passed legislation in October 2024 to make birth control free, to cover diabetes medication, and to create a legal framework for a national pharmacare plan. The law included $1.5bn over five years for its first phase after negotiations between the Liberals and the NDP. Only three provinces and one territory have deals in place; British Columbia and Manitoba already had free contraception. Nearly a year later, national implementation has stalled, political leadership changed, and the new prime minister prioritizes economic issues over reproductive rights. Health experts and advocates express puzzlement and frustration at the slow provincial uptake.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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