Nurses applaud Health Ministers stand on national prescription drug plan

BANFF, AB, Oct. 1, 2014 /CNW/ - Nurses stand with Canada's provincial health ministers as they push the federal government to implement a national pharmacare strategy.

"We are encouraged that the health ministers understand lowering the cost of prescription drugs is critical to improving the health of Canadians," said CFNU President Linda Silas. "We are now calling on the federal government to move forward with a plan for pharmacare."

Research conducted for the CFNU shows that pharmacare could allow as much as $11.4 billion per year to be made available for reinvestment in health care – including critical areas such as long-term care and safe staffing.

Pharmacare would ensure the sustainability and access of prescription drugs for all Canadians.

"Canadians are looking to Ottawa for leadership on pharmacare," said Silas. "Rising costs have made prescription drugs inaccessible to many of our country's most vulnerable populations, including seniors."

With a national election expected in 2015, the CFNU plans to press all political federal parties to pursue a national pharmacare strategy.

SOURCE: Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions

Anil Naidoo, Government and External Relations Officer, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, Telephone: [phone]| 1-800-321-9821, Cell: 613-986-5409, E-mail: [email protected]