Singh promises full pharmacare within four years, starting with ‘common’ medications

VANCOUVER — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says an NDP government would establish a complete public pharmacare system within four years of being elected.

Singh says the NDP would start the expansion with “100 of the most prescribed medications,” including pain medications and antibiotics, which he argues would cover about half of all prescriptions in Canada at a cost to taxpayers of roughly $3.5 billion.

The campaigning Singh has been pointing to the introduction of the initial pharmacare program as a reason for people to vote for the NDP.

Pharmacare legislation was a key condition of the supply and confidence agreement between the Liberals and the NDP that kept the Liberal minority government in power.

The pharmacare program currently covers the cost of most diabetes medications and medical devices, plus contraceptives.

The federal government has agreements with B.C., Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Yukon to provide coverage under the pharmacare program.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2025.

David Baxter, The Canadian Press