Local labour council calling for National Pharmacare Plan
Posted Nov 7, 2017 07:16:49 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The local arm of the Canadian Labour Congress is stepping up the fight for a National Pharmacare Plan in Canada.
The Waterloo Regional Labour Council says it’s a problem that hits close to home.
It says many residents here do not have a prescription drug plan, and for those who do, many of those plans don’t cover the full cost of the medications they need.
It pegs that number at one in five residents that have to pay all or part of the cost of their medications out of pocket.
Labour Council President Dave Eales says, “It is unacceptable for any Canadian to choose between paying for basic necessities or getting the medication they require.”
He calls pharmacare a “human right”, adding “In Waterloo Region, many of our most vulnerable citizens cannot afford to fill their prescriptions.”
To that end, the Labour Council is holding a community forum tonight to highlight the issue.
Among those expected to attend are the executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, some local politicians and labour activists.
It’s taking place at St. David’s Catholic Secondary School in Waterloo beginning at 6:30.
