Media Room

Advisories

30/01/2009

CNA Reacts to Release of National Pharmaceuticals Strategy Report

Ottawa, January 30, 2009 – The Health Council of Canada is releasing The National Pharmaceuticals Strategy: A Prescription Unfilled, a commentary offering the council’s perspective, with particular emphasis on catastrophic drug coverage, patient safety and affordability. The report will be released this morning at 10 a.m. via a press conference in Toronto.

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) will be available today for interviews regarding the following issues:

• CNA has a strong commitment to providing safe, equitable and effective health care, including the accessibility, affordability and safety of prescription medications.

• CNA believes that progress on several of the key priorities of the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy has stalled and urges the government to move ahead with its development.

• CNA believes that catastrophic drug coverage requires immediate action given the current economic situation.

• Access to affordable prescriptions is vital to the health of Canadians to prevent serious disease, reduce hospital stays and replace surgical treatment.

• CNA believes that the lack of a proper pharmaceuticals strategy is an issue that requires immediate government attention.

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To set up an interview to discuss this further, please contact:

Michelle Dennis
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Nurses Association
Tel: 613-237-2159 ext. 283
Cell: 613-697-7507
E-mail: mdennis@cna-aiic.ca