National pharmacare tour culminates in Ottawa as parliamentary committee releases landmark report
OTTAWA, April 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) will host a community town hall in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 17 as it winds up its national pharmacare tour. That same day, the Standing Committee on Health will release its recommendations on the creation of a national prescription drug plan.
"If the Committee's report is reflective of the nearly 100 expert witnesses they heard from, then it can be expected to confirm the need and economic benefit of a national pharmacare plan that is universal, comprehensive, and publicly-administered," said CLC President Hassan Yussuff.
The CLC launched a cross-country tour last fall to promote the expansion of Canada's medicare system to provide universal prescription drug coverage. The 23-stop tour attracted more than 2,000 people across the country and engaged nearly 50,000 others who signed petitions and sent emails to Members of Parliament.
| What: | Canadian Labour Congress Pharmacare Ottawa Town Hall | |
| When: | 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., April 17, 2018 | |
| Where: | Delta Ottawa City Centre - Ballroom B & C, 101 Lyon St N Ottawa, ON | |
| Who: | Hassan Yussuff, CLC President | |
| Dr. Danielle Martin, Vice President Medical Affairs and Health System Solutions, Women's College Hospital | ||
| Dr. Danyaal Raza, Chair, Canadian Doctors for Medicare |
"Today, 3.5 million Canadians can't afford their prescriptions, and access to coverage often depends on where you live and how much you earn. Nobody should have to choose between paying for groceries and paying for the medication they need," said Yussuff.
The Standing Committee on Health report, titled Pharmacare Now: Prescription Medicine Coverage for all Canadians, is expected to lay the groundwork for the recently announced Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare.
To learn more about the CLC's pharmacare campaign, visit:
aplanforeveryone.ca.
Journalists wishing to attend the event or to arrange an interview with an expert, please contact:
Chantal St-Denis
CLC Communications
613-355-1962
Email: [email protected]
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