An expert advisory committee is recommending the federal government fully fund essential medicines for all Canadians and pass new legislation that clearly defines how a national pharmacare program will work.

The committee was set up last fall and tasked with reporting to the health minister on the best way to set up and fund a universal, single-payer pharmacare program.

Its report, released today, says creating an essential medicine list would allow the federal government to avoid negotiating bilateral deals with all provinces and territories, and ensure equal access. 

It says Ottawa should deliver pharmacare through existing government drug plans so Canadians can get access to free medication with their health cards.

The report recommends against a fill-the-gaps approach that would offer coverage only to people without private insurance.

The committee estimates the cost of a publicly funded essential medicine list at between $6 and $10 billion. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2025.