On behalf of Diabetes Canada, we would like to commend the government of PEI for its on-going commitment to improving the lives of Islanders affected by diabetes. Reducing copays for commonly prescribed, eligible medications to $5 for residents covered under the Seniors Drug, the Family Health Benefit, as well as the Generic Drug and Diabetes Drug programs will greatly reduce barriers to accessing medications for people living with diabetes.
Additionally, the Budget 2023 funding of $400,000 to launch a foot care program further demonstrates PEI’s commitment to caring for people living with diabetes.
At a time where affordability is an ever-increasing challenge, we welcome this news as an important step forward on behalf of the Government of PEI toward improving the quality, accessibility, and equity of care in the province.
Moving forward, we hope to build on this momentum by collaborating with the government on PEI’s Diabetes Strategy using the Framework for Diabetes in Canada as a guidepost. Since the federal tabling of the Framework last October by Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, Diabetes Canada has continued to champion the Framework throughout Canada, calling for governments to invest in its implementation.