B.C. signs $670-million pharmacare agreement with federal government

By Canadian Press on March 6, 2025.

VICTORIA — The British Columbia and federal governments have signed a four-year, $670-million pharmacare agreement, giving universal access to contraceptive and diabetes medications.

The plan will support nearly 550,000 B.C. residents with diabetes and provide 1.3 million people with a range of contraceptives.

The agreement will also mean free public coverage of hormone replacement therapy to treat menopause symptoms, although universal access to the free medications doesn’t start until March next year.

Federal Health Minister Mark Holland says people talk about the cost of such a plan, but the expense of not giving someone with diabetes the medicine they need could be blindness, loss of a limb or even death.

The funding agreement will also improve access to diabetes devices and supplies.

B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne says no one should have to choose between paying for their medications or paying for groceries.