[4] Multiple organizers and commenters have advocated a pan-Canadian pharmacare program to complement the existing health system, but the precise model for implementation is unclear.
Attempts to create a federal program began in 1994 under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien after recommendation from the National Forum on Health.
Despite subsequent recommendation from the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada and the Canadian Senate, the efforts were discontinued in 2006 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper who had previously pledged to implement a pharmacare program.
[16] The proposed program would create a single-payer system to cover expenses for contraceptives and diabetes medication in the first phase, with a designated budget of $1.5 billion.
[17] The government tabled Bill C-64 titled An Act respecting pharmacare in 2024, which passed on October 10, 2024[18] The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) was revamped into Canada's Drug Agency, tasked with creating a formulary and a national purchasing plan.