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The BC government’s plan to dump drug costs on individuals will have a devastating effect on seniors and families in the province.

CUPE BC and the Hospital Employees’ Union (CUPE) have exposed the true costs of the Liberals’ plan to drastically overhaul Pharmacare, the province’s prescription drug program, a scheme that will offload $400 million in drug costs onto British Columbians.

Some seniors could see their drug bills quadruple, and the average BC family with children faces a bill that will more than double. The Liberals’ move away from universal coverage introduces an intrusive income-testing scheme that will be costly to administer. Gutting Pharmacare will also hit workers and employers through increased pressure on workplace benefit plans.

CUPE is calling for real solutions to rising drug costs, including a national prescription drug program, changes to drug patent laws that funnel huge profits to the drug multinationals, moves to address over-prescription of drugs, and more efficient ways of buying drugs.