This week, the Government of Canada announced its 2024 budget, providing further clarification on a National Pharmacare Plan. The new budget proposes to provide $1.5 billion over five years to Health Canada to support the launch of a National Pharmacare Plan, starting with $59 million in 2024-2025 and gradually increasing to $477 million by 2027-2028.
The government has also reaffirmed its plans to establish a fund to support access to diabetes devices and supplies, with more announcements to come following consultations with provincial and territorial governments, and other stakeholder groups.
“As Diabetes Canada continues its nation-wide advocacy to improve access to medications, devices and supplies for more than four million people living with diabetes, the Government of Canada’s reaffirmed commitment to a National Pharmacare Program in Budget 2024 is encouraging,” says Glenn Thibeault, Executive Director of Government Affairs, Advocacy and Policy at Diabetes Canada. “As more details become available, Diabetes Canada will continue to advocate so that everyone has access to the treatments they need to support the best possible health outcomes.”
With the on-going shortages of diabetes medications over the past few years, Diabetes Canada is encouraged to see that the budget also included a commitment to ensuring access to essential drugs and medical devices. The budget proposes to provide $3.2 million over three years to upgrade Health Canada’s supply management capacity for drugs and medical devices.
When it comes to affordability, people living with diabetes face an enormous financial burden between medications, daily supplies, devices, dietary needs, time off work, and other related bills. According to the Diabetes and Diabetes-Related Out-of-Pocket Costs 2022 report, the total out-of-pocket costs for people living with diabetes can be as high as $18,306, depending on where they live in Canada.
Diabetes Canada has long advocated for increased access to diabetes medications, devices and supplies, one of six core component of the Framework for Diabetes in Canada that was tabled in 2022.