New Health Accord improves access to necessary prescription medications.

What success looks like

Canadians have access to lower cost prescription medications.

Government's narrative on progress

The government is working on enhancing the affordability, accessibility and appropriate use of prescription drugs in collaboration with provinces, territories and other partners. The government has joined the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, which leverages combined federal-provincial-territorial purchasing power to make patented prescription drugs cheaper for public plans and lower prescription generic drug prices for all payers. Following an initial consultation in Spring 2017, proposed amendments to the Patented Medicines Regulations were published in Canada Gazette I on December 2, 2017, launching a 75-day period during which stakeholders and interested Canadians were invited to provide feedback. Budget 2017 invested $140.3 million over five years and $18.2 million per year ongoing for Health Canada, the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board and the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. As part of Budget 2018, the government announced it is creating an Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare. The Advisory Council will conduct an economic and social assessment of domestic and international models, and will recommend options on how to move forward. The full Council was launched on June 20, 2018, and has begun engaging with provincial, territorial and Indigenous leaders as well as experts, stakeholders, patients and other Canadians.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.