Alberta wants to opt out of national pharmacare program

The Alberta government plans to opt from a nationwide pharmacare program that includes coverage for diabetes medication and birth control. The announcement follows an agreement between the federal NDP to introduce legislation with the governing Liberals on Friday.Adriana LaGrange, minister of health for Alberta, says the province will opt out of a federal pharmacare plan.

LaGrange said Alberta has "robust" coverage of medications through programs like Alberta Blue Cross, even though the plan has limits and requires people to pay for coverage. Dr. Shelley Duggan is a nephrologist in Edmonton who is the president-elect of the Alberta Medical Association. Duggan said she's puzzled by the province's assertion that everyone has a benefit plan that can cover the drug costs."What we do know is that people who don't have drug coverage are 2½ more times likely to miss medications than those who don't worry about the cost," Duggan said.

She said people who live in poverty will frequently skip buying medication in order to afford rent and food. The Alberta government has fought with the federal Liberal government on issues like child care, the carbon tax and an emissions cap.

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