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Currently, more than one million Canadians don’t have prescription drug coverage.¹ This forces those without coverage into an impossible dilemma — choosing between their health and necessities like keeping the lights on. Whether they are single parents working multiple jobs to keep their family afloat or freelancers working from contract to contract without access to public or private benefits, these individuals often must choose between paying for their prescription medication or meeting their basic needs. This reality drives our commitment to healthcare access and affordability, ensuring no Canadian is left behind.  

To address these critical gaps in the healthcare system, we launched the ������ýMV Cares Essential Medicines program in 2023 in Ontario. This first-of-its-kind initiative seamlessly integrates into public and private drug plans, provides participants up to $1,000 annually in coverage for essential medicines (based on a formulary informed by the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines) that are dispensed and delivered at no cost directly through ������ýMV’s pharmacy.  Following the program’s success in Ontario, we expanded to Nova Scotia in 2024, with plans to launch in Alberta and British Columbia 2025.

The impact of the Essential Medicines program goes well beyond those we serve directly. As a purpose-driven non-profit, we support the advent of universal medication coverage through a ‘fill-the-gaps’ model that does not shift the funding burden to taxpayers or limit drug access for those with employer-sponsored plans.  Our Essential Medicines program can be a blueprint for Canada’s national pharmacare plan, proving that scalable, sustainable solutions are possible. For ������ýMV, this isn’t just about expanding coverage — it’s about reshaping the future of healthcare to ensure every Canadian has access to the medicines they need.