Premier
Lorne Calvert has announced plans that will see Saskatchewan
continue to lead the nation in building a stronger public health care
system.
"An
NDP government will build upon the success of the Seniors' Drug
Plan, introducing a Universal Drug Plan so that no one will pay more
than $15 per prescription for drugs in the Saskatchewan formulary,"
Calvert said. "We believe that a family's ability to pay should
not determine whether they get the prescription drugs they need.
Never again will anyone in Saskatchewan have to choose between paying
for their rent or paying for their prescription."
Under
the Universal Drug Plan, which would take effect July 1, 2008, a
person requiring a common prescription for diabetes would save more
than $70 for each prescription; those requiring blood pressure
medication would save more than $42; and those needing a prescription
for cholesterol would save more than $58 per prescription.
Calvert
said while an NDP government believes working families should share
in the benefits of a strong economy through improved health care, the
Sask Party wants to weaken the public health care system. "The Sask
Party will hide behind phrases like ‘efficiency review' and
‘health audit', but make no mistake - they cannot be trusted to
protect public health care.
"Brad
Wall opposed the new drug plan for seniors, which has saved our
province's 115,000 seniors an average of $400 a year, calling the
plan reckless and unsustainable. The Sask Party does not believe
that our seniors and families should share in our prosperity. As we
did with Medicare, an NDP government will continue to lead the nation
in building a strong public health care system."
In
addition to the Universal Drug Plan, Calvert said in the coming days,
the NDP will unveil more innovative new ways to provide greater
access to the public health care system, to reduce wait times and to
improve patient services.
"Saskatchewan
people have an important choice to make on November 7," Calvert
said. "The NDP cares passionately about making life better for
everyone in the province, and expanded prescription drug coverage
means that no one will be unable to afford the prescription drugs
they need.
"Brad
Wall and the Sask Party oppose the seniors' drug plan. If you vote
the Sask Party you put the Seniors' Drug Plan and the Universal
Drug Plan at risk."
