Federal government, B.C. collaborate on improved contraception, diabetes coverage

The Canadian government and B.C.'s Ministry of Health are collaborating to make essential medications, including contraception, diabetes medication and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), more accessible and affordable. Once Bill C-64 is passed, they plan to negotiate universal single-payer coverage for these medications. B.C. already started providing free contraceptives in Apr. 2023 and aims to extend similar coverage for HRT. This expanded coverage comes as a 2021 report found over a quarter of B.C. residents didn't have enough insurance to cover the cost of their prescription drugs.