'The additional coverage improvement of hormone replacement therapy for people experiencing menopausal symptoms is significant in supporting women's health'
The federal and British Columbia governments have signed a pharmacare agreement that will address the healthcare needs of nearly two million residents in the province.
The agreement will see an investment of more than $670 million over four years to provide universal access to contraceptives, diabetes medications, devices and supplies for B.C. residents.
"This national pharmacare agreement with BC is a significant milestone in building a stronger public healthcare system for Canadians,” said Canada’s Minister of Health Mark Holland.
The funding agreement with B.C. will support the reproductive freedom of more than 1.3 million British Columbians and ensure that nearly 550,000 BC residents with diabetes can access essential medications, according to the federal government.
Ottawa had previously signed agreements with other provinces prior to the coming of the National Pharmacare legislation.
Here’s what Canada’s first phase of pharmacare means for HR, according to experts.
Expanded pharmacare coverage for menopause treatment
As part of the agreement, B.C. will also expand its pharmacare coverage by providing free public access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal symptoms for all residents.
“The additional coverage improvement of hormone replacement therapy for people experiencing menopausal symptoms is significant in supporting women's health,” said Holland. “This agreement is another important step to making sure that every Canadian can get the medications they need. We will keep working with all provinces and territories to sign more deals so that across the country, Canadians are covered."
On April 1, 2023, the province began providing free contraceptives to all residents. In 2024 alone, roughly 227,000 people received free prescription contraception, through this nation-leading program. Since the start of the program, more than 306,000 people have benefited.
"We are committed to making essential healthcare more accessible – whether it's managing menopause, preventing unintended pregnancies, or controlling chronic diabetes. B.C. was the first province in Canada to provide free contraception, and now we are working to expand public coverage to include free medication for diabetes and menopausal symptoms,” said Josie Osborne, B.C. minister of health.
“Today's agreement is an important step towards strengthening BC's universal, public healthcare system in the long-term – one where everyone can get the essential medications they need without having to pull out their credit card."
The agreement follows the first national pharmacare agreement that the federal government signed – that one with the Manitoba government.
