Today, health professionals joined NDP Leader Ryan Meili in calling on the Sask. Party government to support universal drug coverage for Canadians. The federal government is currently formulating a course of action, but the Sask. Party has not thrown its support behind this important initiative.
“Canada is the only country with universal health insurance that doesn’t have universal drug coverage,” said Meili. “This gap does an incredible amount of damage, especially for lower income households struggling to make ends meet. When people are forced to choose between paying their power bill or buying their medication, that’s not right. So why has Scott Moe so far failed to stand up for universal drug coverage for Saskatchewan?”
Medications are the second largest cost in Canadian healthcare. Canada’s per capita spending on drugs is 62 per cent higher than Britain’s and 136 per cent higher than Denmark. And Saskatchewan people in particular pay the price: in 2015, low-income seniors in Saskatchewan spent 10 times as much on prescription drugs as their counterparts in Ontario. If Canada had a national drug coverage plan, spending would drastically decrease, leaving more money in the pockets of Saskatchewan seniors.
In 2015, more than 150 physicians, pharmacists, and nurses signed a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau highlighting the importance of a universal drug coverage plan. Dr. Sally Mahood of the Family Medicine Unity was one of the signatories, and joined Meili and healthcare practitioners at the Legislature today.
“Pharmaceuticals are so essential to health and well-being that the World Health Organization has declared that all nations should ensure universal access to necessary medicines,” said Mahood. “Canada needs to get on board. We are here at the Legislative Assembly to ensure that our elected representatives understand just how important we think this is for Saskatchewan.”
“With PST increases and a slowing economy, households are having to pinch pennies and make tough choice – choices they shouldn’t be forced to make,” said Meili. “While we wait for the federal government to decide whether or not to live up to its pharmacare promise, there’s an important role for the province in advocating for a plan that works for us.”
Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.