While politicians and bureaucrats make critical decisions on which drugs to cover in public drug plans, they themselves already enjoy full coverage of these same drugs under their own plans, CARP, Canada's Association for the Fifty Plus, revealed today.
As part of its No More Waiting campaign, CARP, commissioned a study comparing prescription drug coverage enjoyed by elected and public officials to public drug plans in British Columbia, Ontario and those managed by the Federal government for Canadian aboriginals, veterans and soldiers. The study shows a large discrepancy between the universal drug coverage enjoyed by politicians and bureaucrats and the public drug plans in several jurisdictions.
CARP president Lillian Morgenthau finds the study results "disturbing" while stressing the importance of full access to medicines for all Canadians and not just our elected officials and top CEOs.
The advocacy group for the 50-plus commissioned Wyatt Health Management to study 73 drugs already approved by Health Canada, that have been submitted to Canada's intergovernmental Common Drug Review (CDR) as of January 12, 2007. Of those 73 drugs, CDR recommended that 27 be covered in provincial and federal drug plans.
Of the 27: - Only 15 are reimbursed by the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan, yet Ontario politicians and bureaucrats are covered for all 27 under their own plan.
- Only 15 are reimbursed by British Columbia drug plans, yet British Columbia politicians and bureaucrats are covered for all 27 under their own plan.
- All 27 are reimbursed for Canadian veterans, while soldiers and aboriginals are only reimbursed for 10 and 15, respectively. However, Federal members of Parliament and bureaucrats are covered for all 27 drugs under their own plan.
Of the 73 drugs submitted, CDR is reviewing 17 drugs and two other drugs are waiting to be reviewed. Of these 19: - None are reimbursed under the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan, yet Ontario politicians and bureaucrats are covered for all 19 under their own plan.
- None are reimbursed under the BC drug plans, either. Yet British Columbia politicians and bureaucrats are covered for all 19 under their own plan.
- None are reimbursed for veterans, soldiers or aboriginals. However, Federal members of Parliament and bureaucrats are covered for all 25 drugs under their own plan all 19 under their own plan.
This study promises to raise more questions about the unequal access to prescription medicines in Canada. Many Canadians rely on provincial drug benefit programs, which provide reduced costs for people over the age of 65. Many of the needed drugs are not covered by provincial drug plans and governments are adopting policies to further restrict drug access to new medicines.
Of particular concern for CARP Members are medicines for neuropathic pain, Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration and diabetes that are not being recommended for listing by the CDR.
Morgenthau said, "it is simply unacceptable that there isn't even full coverage of the 28 drugs recommended by the government's own Common Drug Review. We believe Canadians deserve better and are owed an answer."
With close to 400,000 members, CARP is Canada's most influential advocacy organization for the 50-plus. |
