The government said it is the initial phase of a plan that would expand to become a publicly funded national programme.

Canada’s parliament has passed a bill that that will cover the full cost of contraception and diabetes drugs for Canadians.

The Liberal government said it is the initial phase of a plan that would expand to become a publicly funded national pharmacare programme.

But two provinces - Alberta and Quebec - have indicated they may opt-out of the programme, accusing Ottawa of interfering in provincial matters.

Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, whose party is ahead in national polls by a wide margin, does not support the legislation.

  • Showroom7561@lemmy.ca
    0·
    23 days ago

    Look, we have to prioritize treatment, since our healthcare system is extremely stretched at the moment.

    We are paying for a lot of lifestyle related illnesses to continue without any patient effort to correct it.

    When you walk in with high blood pressure, do you think they don’t mention reducing your weight, sodium, and cholesterol? Some people follow that advice, some don’t.

    Most don’t, which is a problem when you have people who need care through no fault of their own.

    Obesity is Canada is something like 1/3. We’re talking about increases in just about every health problem under the sun.

    Now, we can continue as we are, prolonging poor health and managing the results of poor lifestyle.

    Or, we can find ways to motivate patients to get better without expensive and ongoing treatments.

    Will this work for everyone? No, because not every health problem is lifestyle related. But enough of it is, and we can unburden our doctors by putting responsibility back into patient’s hands.

    We would benefit far more as a county if money was spent on ways to prevent and reverse illness, even if that means giving away free bikes and produce.

    Keeping people sick is cruel and benefits only pharmaceutical companies.

    • GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca
      1·
      23 days ago

      I’m going to say this real slow one last time. Then promote funding for helping people to change their lifestyle rather than removing healthcare. Another wildly inconceivable idea is to add funding to healthcare, rather than cut it every year. Yes, taxes may have to increase, yes, people will call that socialism, and yes, quality of life will go up for most people, without even requiring those you find morally reprehensible to die sooner than necessary.