On March 6, 2025, British Columbia became the second province to announce the signing of a pharmacare agreement with Canada’s federal government. Manitoba was the first province to do so, on February 27, 2025 (our report here).

British Columbia’s pharmacare agreement

The agreement follows from a September 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between the British Columbia and federal governments, stating an intention to negotiate a funding agreement (our report here). 

Under the signed agreement, British Columbia will receive more than $670 million over 4 years to provide universal access to contraceptives and diabetes medications, devices, and supplies. As part of the agreement, British Columbia will also provide free coverage of hormone replacement therapy to treat menopausal symptoms.  Residents of British Columbia are expected to begin receiving coverage for these products in March 2026.  

Next steps for pharmacare in Canada

In addition to authorizing bilateral funding agreements for contraceptives and diabetes medications, An Act respecting pharmacare (the Pharmacare Act) stipulates additional steps to advance national pharmacare. Under the Pharmacare Act, the following steps are to be completed on or before October 10, 2025:

  • Canada’s Drug Agency / l’Agence des médicaments du Canada (CDA-AMC) must prepare “a list of essential prescription drugs and related products to inform the development of a national formulary” as well as “a national bulk purchasing strategy for prescription drugs and related products” (our report here);
  • The Minister of Health must publish “a pan-Canadian strategy regarding the appropriate use of prescription drugs and related products”; and
  • The Committee of Experts established in November 2024 (our report here) must recommend “options for the operation and financing of national, universal, single-payer pharmacare”.

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