Canadians Less Concerned About Pharmacare Than Other Health-Care Issues: Study

Pharmacist Denis Boissinot checks a bottle on a shelf at his pharmacy in Quebec City in this file photo. The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot

Canadians largely don’t consider the cost of prescription drugs to be a significant issue, prioritizing other health-care concerns instead, indicates research conducted in mid-2023 for the Privy Council Office (PCO). This revelation came ahead of the federal cabinet’s decision to backtrack on a commitment made to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to enact a pharmacare bill by the end of 2023.

Two reports prepared for the PCO based on May and June 2023 focus group findings suggest a general perception that prescription drugs in Canada are affordable for most, largely due to employer coverage or tax return claims, according to Blacklock’s Reporter in an article on Jan. 4.