No Canadian should have to choose between paying for prescription drugs and putting food on the table.
Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Canada's Minister of Health, and the Honourable Ernie Hudson, Minister of Health and Wellness for Prince Edward Island (PEI), highlighted further progress made under the Improving Affordable Access to Prescriptions Drugs Program to make it easier for Islanders to access and afford medications.
Since announcing the signing of the letter of intent in August 2021 and the subsequent signing of the funding agreement in March 2022, the Improving Affordable Access to Prescriptions Drugs Program has enabled many PEI residents to have more affordable access to important treatments for cancer, heart disease, migraine, and mental health. The province has also changed the requirements on dozens of medications to allow greater ease of access for patients and reduced administrative burden for physicians seeking to provide these medications to Islanders.
As well, the Governments of Canada and PEI announced today that a third suite of medications are being added to the PEI formulary as of January 23, 2023. Since December 2022, PEI has improved access to 61 medications. These improvements include medications used in the treatment of cancer, heart disease, migraine, multiple sclerosis, and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
