Press release
QFL reaction – Adoption on third reading of the Bill on public and universal drug insurance
5 June 2024
Montréal, June 4, 2024. – The Quebec Federation of Labour (QFL) welcomes the third reading of federal Bill C-64 on prescription drug insurance. It now goes to the Senate. We understand that the bill’s passage is the first step towards the implementation of a truly public and universal drug insurance program.
“For the QFL, the need for such a program is well established. In Quebec alone, it is estimated that nearly 10% of the population goes without medication for lack of means. Even if the bill isn’t perfect, the federal government’s initiative is to be welcomed. Once it receives Royal Assent, the federal government will have to get down to work to finalize the implementation of a universal public plan across the country,” says QFL President Magali Picard.
Quebec’s public-private plan inefficient
“Quebec’s drug insurance plan has become costly, inequitable and no longer meets the needs of the population. Pooling drug purchasing across the country alone should save billions of dollars annually. As for the issue of jurisdiction, this must not become an excuse to do nothing by maintaining an obsolete hybrid system. At the QFL, we believe that if Quebec wants its share of funding, it must have the obligation to set up a public and universal drug insurance plan,” concludes QFL President Magali Picard.
The QFL, Quebec’s largest union federation, represents over 600,000 workers.
Source : QFL
For further information, please contact:
| Jean Laverdière | 514 893-7809 | jlaverdiere@ftq.qc.ca |