STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.

Birth control, diabetes meds could be covered if Liberals clinch NDP pharmacare deal

Feb 14, 2024 | 11:22 AM

OTTAWA — Pharmacare negotiations between the Liberals and NDP are on a knife’s edge, and the main point of contention is the number of drugs they plan to start with.

Two sources with knowledge of the talks say if the parties reach a deal, they plan to begin by launching with a select few drug categories while they continue to formulate a more robust national drug plan.

The parties have already agreed to cover birth control through a single-payer program in the first go around, and they are also in talks to include diabetes drugs in the program.

The sources say the NDP is pushing for more drug categories to be included, but the Liberals have raised concerns about costs.