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Pharma Care Persuasive Essay

Decent Essays

Today’s disjointed pharmaceutical policy may be described as a “tragedy of the commons” – a shared resource that is overused and being depleted by all players acting in their own self-interest for the greatest short term gain. We all need to be reminded that there is only one payer. Individual Canadians pay for access to prescription drugs through taxes, as part of their compensation package, or out of pocket directly, as premiums, deductibles or co-payments.

While there is tremendous variation in stakeholder viewpoints regarding what pharmacare should look like and who should fund it, there is clear consensus on many overarching principles. Our reliance on prescription drugs as a key tool in the maintenance and restoration of health has increased greatly since the inception of Medicare. Our current fragmented approach for funding of therapies has led to …show more content…

It is evident that Canadians remain divided on the details of such a strategy, but align on the key overarching principles. As such, if the current patchwork system is to be successfully modified, or trashed and replaced, the change must align with the above principles to appeal to the masses, maximize the wins and mitigate the losses.

Canadians who rely on the health system must become engaged in the debate and be prepared for change to the benefits they receive. The federal government, led by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, must take a leadership role to initiate the policy change required to establish a pharmacare program aligned with the principles defined by the many consultations and debates. Provincial governments must recognize the value and efficiency of a national, collaborative approach and the need to adapt their current benefit offerings to address defined gaps in coverage and better align with the stated

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