Conservative Health Minister Tony Clement says he's open to creating a catastrophic-illness drug plan such as the one promised by the Liberals and the New Democrats, but a brand new initiative isn't the only solution.
Speaking to CTV's Canada AM on Tuesday, Clement said there is already money in the health care system that could go towards prescription drugs if the provinces and feds could work together on the issue.
"What I've said to my provincial counterparts is I'm willing to go forward with a new initiative, but there's money in the system now," Clement said from Huntsville, Ont.
"If we work together to do bulk purchasing of pharmaceutical products, if we work together to reduce our generic drug costs -- because our costs are 25 to 30 per cent higher than they have in the U.S -- then we can find the money to put to new, innovative drugs or drugs for rare diseases."
Clement also suggested the Liberals and NDP would simply throw money at the issue rather than coming up with a real solution.
Both of the Conservatives' primary opponents have promised to provide funding for Canadians dealing with the costs of catastrophic illness or disease.
Liberal pledge
Liberal Leader Stephane Dion promised $900 million over four years to create a new plan.
Calling it "one of the most fundamental policies a government can provide to its citizens," Dion said the proposal would cover the costs of drugs for serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and arthritis.
"In the Canada we want, Canadians battling a serious illness should not be forced to sell their house to buy the prescription medicines they need -- not in our Canada. Never," Dion said when he made the campaign promise.
New Democrat promise
New Democrat Leader Jack Layton's drug proposal would cover 50 per cent of catastrophic drug costs for seniors and families facing illness, above $1,500 per year per person.
"The goal of this plan is to provide Canadians with a safety net so that they won't be bankrupted by prescription drug costs," Layton said in a news release.
"It will give every Canadian -- wherever they live, whatever they earn or have saved -- a basic guarantee and a basic level of help and financial security."
