title: The financial burden of prescription drugs for neurological conditions in Canada: Results from the National Population Health Study of Neurological Conditions.
abstract: This paper describes the current situation in Canada concerning the availability and use of prescription drugs for neurological conditions. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with health care providers, administrators, community organization representatives, opinion leaders and policy makers. The analysis revealed three primary themes related to the availability of and access to prescription drugs to treat neurological conditions. First, we learned that across Canada there is significant vulnerability and a need for advocacy on behalf of people living with these conditions. Second, we learned that the heightened level of vulnerability and need for advocacy stems in part from the significant differences in the drug coverage available in the different provinces and territories. As a result, there are significant inequities across Canada. Third, we determined that the existing situation is also due to the current approach to health governance (i.e., accountability, transparency). Our study provides evidence for the urgent need for a formal discourse on national pharmacare in Canada, with representatives of neurological conditions having a voice at the table.
authors.affiliation: Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada; Center for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1W8, Canada. Electronic address: sara.guilcher@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guilcher
authors.affiliation: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, 550 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2A2, Canada. Electronic address: sarah.munce@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Munce
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Human Sciences, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisoneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8, Canada. Electronic address: james.conklin@concordia.ca.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Conklin
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, Dalhousie University, Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada. Electronic address: Tanya.packer@dal.ca.
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Packer
authors.affiliation: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, 550 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2A2, Canada; Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada; Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada. Electronic address: m.verrier@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verrier
authors.affiliation: Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Centre and the Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8, Canada. Electronic address: connie.marras@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marras
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada. Electronic address: tarik.bereket@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bereket
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, Dalhousie University, Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada. Electronic address: jversnel@dal.ca.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Versnel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Room 144, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4, Canada. Electronic address: richard.riopelle@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riopelle
authors.affiliation: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, 550 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2A2, Canada; Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada; Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Suite 425, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3M6, Canada. Electronic address: susan.jaglal@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaglal
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D016527:Drug Costs; D006291:Health Policy; D006306:Health Surveys; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D011050:Policy Making; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D036301:Qualitative Research
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: Drug policy; Neurological conditions; Qualitative research