Canadian Pharmacists Association releases statement on pharmacare

OTTAWA, Jan. 29, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) today released a statement on national pharmacare in Canada. The statement identifies core principles and values that CPhA believes need to be included within any future pharmacare policy.

The statement begins with the core principle that "all Canadians should be able to access medically necessary medications, regardless of income". The statement also recognizes that any future pharmacare policy needs to address three key priorities:

• Addressing gaps between private and public systems
• Protecting Canadians from undue financial hardship
• Protect patient access to a stable supply of clinically and cost-effective drugs

Fundamental to CPhA's position is that a national pharmacare policy needs to address the key issue of comparable levels of access to pharmacy services from across the country. Access to medication needs to be complimented by access to the range of services that pharmacists provide.

"I am proud that the Canadian Pharmacists Association has issued a statement that clearly identifies our core principles in relation to national pharmacare," stated Jane Farnham, Chair of the Canadian Pharmacists Association. "As leaders within the health care field, pharmacists are keenly aware that public policy gaps exist with regard to medication accessibility for patients. CPhA looks forward to working with governments, health provider groups, private payers, and other stakeholders to discuss how policies can be changed to reduce the barriers that exist for Canadians to access necessary medications, and how the care associated with medication use can be properly resourced and delivered", she added.

A copy of the CPhA Pharmacare Statement can be accessed via the CPhA website at www.pharmacists.ca.

SOURCE Canadian Pharmacists Association

Jeff Morrison, Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs, 613-291-9377 (phone), [email protected] (email)