FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA – The Council of Canadians is pleased that the newly announced Committee of Experts on national pharmacare will be free of corporate interference—a crucial step toward ensuring a program focused on public health over private profits.
“This announcement marks another major victory for defenders of single-payer pharmacare,” said Christina Warner, Executive Director of the Council of Canadians.
“After failing to block pharmacare legislation, pharmaceutical and insurance lobbyists had been clamoring for a seat on this committee to undermine the program from within. We are pleased that Minister Holland opted for independent experts, ensuring corporate interests won’t derail this essential program.”
In recent weeks, Council of Canadians supporters sent nearly 7,000 letters to Health Minister Holland and his top advisors, calling for a committee free of corporate conflicts of interest.
“We’re heartened to see that grassroots voices were heard,” added Nikolas Barry-Shaw, pharmacare campaigner at the Council of Canadians. “We’re especially glad to see champions of single-payer pharmacare like Dr. Nav Persaud, Prof. Steve Morgan, and Linda Silas on this committee. Their inclusion sends a reassuring message that pharmacare will be developed for patients, not for corporate bottom lines.”
Since the passing of Bill C-64, pharmaceutical and insurance industries have been lobbying federal and provincial governments to stall the rollout and expansion of pharmacare.
“This committee will provide invaluable guidance on expanding pharmacare beyond the initial two drug classes, so that access to all essentials medications in Canada is finally based on need, not on income,” Barry-Shaw concluded.
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