The Canadian Medical Association Journal has released a study which concludes Canadians pay more for primary care prescription drugs than people in other countries with universal healthcare.
The study reveals across countries, the average annual per capita expenditure on the primary care medicines studied varied by more than 600%…….From $23 in New Zealand to $158 in Canada and $171 in Switzerland.
The list prices of medicines used in Canada were about 61% higher than the average list prices in the other countries.
The Canadian Medical Association estimates Canadians and private drug plan sponsors could save more than $4-billion a year with universal coverage for a group of commonly prescribed essential medicines.
The Medical Association argues what we have without universal prescription drug coverage is an inadequate patchwork system that leaves many out in the cold. It’s estimated 1 in 8 Canadians don’t take their prescribed medication because they can’t afford it.
