B.C. Pharmacare Agreement: A Game-Changer for Type 2 Diabetes Care
- t2diabetesnetwork
- Mar 11
- 4 min read
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.
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. Under the signed agreement, British Columbia will receive more than $670 million over four 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.
Key Highlights
✅ Hundreds of thousands of B.C. residents with Type 2 diabetes will receive free medication.
✅ Funding will also support diabetes devices and supplies to improve patient care.
✅ Reducing the financial burden of diabetes management ensures better health outcomes.
Why This Matters
Access to essential medications is a crucial part of healthcare, and this new pharmacare agreement will have far-reaching benefits for individuals and families across British Columbia.
Managing Type 2 diabetes requires a combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and regular monitoring. When individuals cannot afford their medications, they may skip doses or delay treatment, increasing their risk of complications like heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, and vision loss.
👉 Federal Health Minister Mark Holland emphasized the life-changing impact of this agreement, stating:
“The expense of not giving someone with diabetes the medicine they need could be blindness, loss of a limb, or even death.”
By ensuring that individuals have consistent access to medications and monitoring tools, this program reduces long-term healthcare costs and helps people live healthier lives.
Diabetes Costs: A Financial Burden Lifted
👉 B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne highlighted how the rising cost of living forces many to choose between basic needs:
“The cost for diabetes medication for a person living with Type 2 diabetes can be as much as $10,000 a year.”
Many British Columbians struggle with the financial burden of life-saving medications, leading some to ration their insulin or delay necessary treatments. The consequences of such decisions can be severe and irreversible.
👉 Now, thanks to this federal funding, diabetes medication costs will be completely covered, ensuring that no one in B.C. has to choose between their health and their financial well-being.
Expanding Access to Diabetes Devices and Supplies
Beyond just covering medications, the Pharmacare agreement will also improve access to diabetes monitoring devices and supplies, making diabetes management more effective and convenient. This means more people will have access to:
Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to track blood sugar levels in real time.
Insulin pumps that automate insulin delivery, reducing the need for multiple daily injections.
Test strips and lancets, essential for regular at-home monitoring.
👉 By covering these essential supplies, the agreement removes financial barriers that often prevent individuals from using the latest diabetes technology to manage their condition effectively.
The Role of Medication in Type 2 Diabetes Management
For those living with Type 2 diabetes, medications such as insulin, GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, and metformin are essential for controlling blood sugar levels. Without proper treatment, uncontrolled diabetes can lead to:
Increased risk of heart disease and stroke
Chronic kidney disease, potentially leading to dialysis
Severe nerve damage (neuropathy), causing pain or even amputation
Vision loss and blindness
👉 Ensuring free access to these medications allows people to better manage their condition and avoid preventable complications, ultimately improving quality of life.
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” ;
The Minister of Health must publish “a pan-Canadian strategy regarding the appropriate use of prescription drugs and related products”;
The Committee of Experts, established in November 2024, must recommend “options for the operation and financing of national, universal, single-payer pharmacare”.
Could National Pharmacare Be On the Horizon?
This agreement between the federal and B.C. governments highlights the growing recognition of the need for publicly funded essential medications. Many advocates believe this could be the first step toward a nationwide pharmacare program.
Canada remains one of the only high-income countries without universal pharmacare, meaning that millions of Canadians still face high out-of-pocket costs for medications. The success of this program in B.C. could pave the way for similar agreements in other provinces or even a federal pharmacare system.
👉 The federal government has already signaled its interest in expanding pharmacare across the country, and this agreement could serve as a blueprint for what’s to come.
This historic agreement reflects a growing commitment to making essential healthcare accessible to all Canadians. Could this be the first step toward a national pharmacare program? Time will tell!
Interactive: What Does This Mean for You?
👉 Join the Conversation: Share your thoughts in the comments! How will this policy impact you or your loved ones?
👉 To stay up to date on BC Pharmacare - sign up for the PharmaCare Newsletter
Related News
👉 Government of Canada News Release – Official announcement detailing the agreement, funding, and expected impacts on B.C. residents.🔗 Read more
👉 CBC News Coverage – A breakdown of the agreement, reactions from officials, and what this means for B.C. residents.🔗 Read more
👉 Castanet News Report – Highlights key financial details and the broader implications of the $670 million agreement.🔗 Read more
👉 Pharma in Brief Analysis – A legal and industry-focused perspective on how this agreement fits into Canada’s Pharmacare landscape.🔗 Read more
Comments