Surprise, Canada’s prescription drug costs are second highest in the world!
This is why Canada has the second-highest medication costs in the world
Seema Marwaha, Special to National Post | November 7, 2016 7:01 PM ET
Madonna Broderick spent 23 years living on the streets of Toronto, struggling with addiction.
“I’ve been clean 15 years but my health has caught up with me,” says the 59-year-old.
She now has many chronic illnesses – including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and fibromyalgia. And, like many low-income Canadians, she has had a tough time paying for her multiple medications.
Broderick receives government disability payments of about $600 a month for basic needs and coverage for her 10 regular medications and insulin, which would otherwise soak up more than half her monthly allowance. But being prescribed a medication that’s not covered causes considerable financial stress.
“Last year I needed an additional medication. It was $80 a month, and it was the difference between me being comfortable and uncomfortable. But I couldn’t afford it. … Anything extra like that is my grocery money,” she said.
