Universal pharmacare to access Diabetes medications
Mar. 04, 2024
Global Korean Post
–
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting people living in Canada. Around 3.7 million people in Canada, or 9.4% of the population, live with diagnosed diabetes. The number of people living with diabetes has doubled over the last decade and is expected to continue to increase as Canada’s population ages and grows.
On February 29, Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced the Government of Canada’s next step toward the first phase of national universal pharmacare with the introduction of Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare, into Parliament, and the intention to provide universal, single-payer coverage for a range of diabetes medications in collaboration with willing provinces and territories (PTs).
In 2015, 25% of Canadians with diabetes indicated following their treatments were affected by cost, in some cases rationing medications to save money. Uncontrolled diabetes can have very serious short and long-term health impacts and represents a burden to individuals, families, and Canadian society. High and unnecessary costs are incurred from lost productivity and elevated health-care system use due to diabetes and its complications, including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation. The full cost of diabetes to the healthcare system in 2018 is estimated to be around $27 billion and could exceed $39 billion by 2028.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that develops when the body either does not produce or effectively use insulin, which it needs to turn sugar into energy. Diabetes can lead to serious health complications if not properly managed.
Diabetes disproportionately affects certain populations within Canada. Evidence shows that First Nations and Métis people, and people of African, East Asian and South Asian ethnic backgrounds have higher rates of Type 2 diabetes compared to the general population.
There are three major types of diabetes, each with different causes and sometimes different treatments:
- Type 1 diabetes happens when the body stops producing insulin. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in childhood or early adulthood. About 5 to 10% of people living with diabetes have type 1.
- Type 2 diabetes happens when the body does not make enough insulin or does not respond well to the insulin it makes. People usually receive a diagnosis for Type 2 diabetes after the age of 40, but it is becoming more common in younger people. About 90% to 95% of people living with diabetes have type 2.
- Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy and disappears after delivery. Gestational diabetes develops in about 10% of pregnancies.
There is currently no cure for diabetes, but some treatments may help to manage it and improve quality of life.
