News Release

7 March 2024 – Brampton, Ontario

At the Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness, Member of Parliament for Brampton South, Sonia Sidhu, along with Dr. Frank Martino, President and CEO of William Osler Health System, hosted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for an important discussion on diabetes, national pharmacare legislation, and addressing local health needs in Brampton.

Diabetes, one of Canada's most prevalent chronic diseases, affects the lives of millions across the country including one in six residents in Brampton. Today’s discussion centered around the urgency and necessity of confronting this health challenge head-on. The Federal Pharmacare Act, a cornerstone of the government's health agenda, proposes foundational principles for a national universal pharmacare program in Canada, setting the stage for universal, single-payer coverage of essential medications, including those for diabetes and contraception.

The National Framework for Diabetes, which began as my Private Member's Bill C-237, is the culmination of years of dedicated effort to enhance the lives of people living with diabetes across our country. This framework brings hope for millions of Canadians, offering a unified direction to coordinate our collective efforts nationwide in the areas of prevention, research, treatment, and more.

"The Framework and our Pharmacare Act are critical steps forward in improving health equity, affordability, and outcomes for Canadians," said MP Sonia Sidhu. "With one in four Canadians with diabetes reporting that they are not following their treatment plan due to cost, the implementation of the Pharmacare Act is not just a matter of policy but a generational step for those in need."

The Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness is known for its work on diabetes and highlighted the significant impact that improved access to diabetes medications can have, not only in enhancing the health of the more than 11 million Canadians living with this disease but also in preventing severe complications that can lead to blindness or amputations.

"A huge thank you to everyone involved for making today's conversation not just a dialogue, but a call to action," MP Sidhu said. "Together, we will work tirelessly to implement the National Framework for Diabetes and improve health outcomes across the country."

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