Universal public coverage of essential medicines could save over $4 billion per year, study finds

[rangerrebew]

Universal public coverage of essential medicines could save over $4 billion per year, study finds

    Download PDF Copy

February 27, 2017 at 2:24 AM

Universal public coverage of 117 essential medicines could address the needs of most Canadians for pharmaceutical drugs, and possibly save more than $4 billion a year, according to a new study published http://www.cmaj.ca/site/press/cmaj.161082.pdf in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

"Adding an essential medicines list is a pragmatic step toward universal pharmacare," states Steven Morgan, a professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia (UBC). "It would ensure all Canadians have access to the most commonly required medicines while saving patients and private drug plan sponsors over $4 billion per year."

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20170227/Universal-public-coverage-of-essential-medicines-could-save-over-244-billion-per-year-study-finds.aspx

[GtHawk]

That plan won't save Canadians money, it will just shift the method that those drugs are paid for to higher taxes and fees elsewhere to pay for it. There is no free lunch.............unless you are an illegal alien in the U.S.