NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is throwing down the gauntlet and challenging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to back up his promise to implement a national pharmacare plan. During the 2019 election campaign, New Democrats promised to bring forward legislation to establish a national pharmacare plan at their first available opportunity. "This is simply a no-brainer in terms of the cost effectiveness," Julian said, describing the potential savings outlined in recent studies of the feasibility of federal pharmacare. During the last Parliament, the Liberal government appointed former Ontario health minister Eric Hoskins to chair an advisory panel on national pharmacare. Bulk purchasing — which premiers have already worked to set up through the Council of the Federation — will reduce the cost of a future national pharmacare program.

Source: CBC News November 18, 2020 19:22 UTC