Public input sought on PEI’s prescription drug coverage
The Province is inviting Island residents to share their opinion on prescription drug coverage in order to help guide development and expansion of drug costs assistance under the Improving Affordable Access to Prescription Drugs project.
The Improving Affordable Access to Prescription Drugs project (IAAPD) aims to make it easier for people living in PEI to access and afford medications.
Under the federal-provincial agreement, the province will receive $35 million over four years in federal funding, to add new drugs to its list of covered drugs, and lower out of pocket costs for drugs covered under existing public plans for Island residents. The province aims to make improvements to PEI drug programs and bring them into closer alignment with programs in neighbouring provinces.
“People living in PEI need drug coverage that responds to their needs”, said the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health. “These consultations will inform efforts to make it easier for PEI residents to access and afford medications and support the federal government’s ongoing work towards a national pharmacare program.”
“We value the opinions of Islanders and understand the importance of consultation. Prescription medicines, and their cost, are important issues for our health system, it is vital that we hear from a variety of Island voices on this issue. No one should have to choose between paying for prescription drugs and putting food on the table.”
- PEI Minister of Health and Wellness Ernie Hudson.
“Islanders pay some of Canada’s highest out-of-pocket costs for drugs,” said the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Cardigan, PEI. “These consultations will allow them to have their voices heard for more affordable access to public drug coverage in the future."
With the agreement, those who are most vulnerable like uninsured Islanders, seniors, and families with high burden of medication cost will benefit from improved access to drugs and a reduction or removal of co-pays for some medications.
Islanders are asked to provide their written comments on prescription drug coverage by completing an online survey which is available here, from October 19 to 26, 2022, 11:59pm.
In addition to the survey, the Department of Health and Wellness is holding consultations this month with a variety of community and health advocacy groups.
A physical questionnaire can also be obtained by contacting healthpolicy@gov.pe.ca, preferably with subject line “Physical Copy of IAAPD survey”.
Media contact:
Ron Ryder
Health and Wellness
rrryder@gov.pe.ca
902-314-6367