Alberta intends to opt out of national pharmacare plan (will demand it's share of the money instead)

[CdnFox]

https://globalnews.ca/news/10316372/alberta-intends-to-opt-out-of-national-pharmacare-plan/amp/

The NDP has reached a deal with the Liberal government to introduce the first piece of a national pharmacare program that includes coverage for birth control and diabetes medication but it appears Alberta does not intend to be part of the agreement.

In an email to Global News on Sunday, Alberta’s health minister said that if the federal government pursues a national pharmacare program, Alberta intends to opt out, and instead intends to obtain a full per capita share of the funding.

A spokesperson from Adriana LaGrange’s office said Alberta was not consulted on the national pharmacare plan “and there are limitations in the initial analysis and assumptions, including start-up investment and administrative costs to implement a cost-sharing model, that were not taken into consideration that add costs for the provinces.”

The spokesperson said the vast majority of Albertans have access to contraceptives through employer or government health care insurance plans.

[CdnFox]

And so it begins.

Frankly i think contraception should be free and in BC it is already for everyone.  but - that's something the people can take up with the province if they want.

Meanwhile this will kill the illusion that this as 'national pharmacare plan'.  And it only covers birth control and diabetes so it really wasn't a pharmacare plan to begin with.

[CdnFox]

Looks like Quebec is out too.