My little girl is almost dead. That’s why National Pharmacare will decide my vote

This firsthand article is the experience of Scott Macmillan, who lives in Dumfries, NB for more information on the first -person stories of the CBC, please see The faq.

I saw the plane disappear in the sky, bringing my 15 month old daughter to a hospital where her life could be saved.

Hours before we were in Fredericton’s emergency room, surrounded by nursing sews. The doctors were trying to pierce the bone marrow of Rosemary to involve fluids in his small body. The call specialist was a few hours away. The doctor told us that our son was in diabetic ketacidosis. This meant that his pancreas did not produce enough insulin and his body was closing. It was 2022, so the pandemic protocols were broken to let me enter the hospital as this could have been goodbye.

The rosemary was so strong; He resisted until she and her mother were transported by plane to Halifax hospital. I haven’t slept for three days, but I had to be next to my daughter. I led five hours alone, trying to overcome a snowstorm arriving, unable to think or speak.

When I finally arrived in Halifax, my partner, Katie, reassured me that Rosemary was stable, but the following days were fundamental to ensure that there were no damage to the brain or kidneys. Our daughter was connected to countless threads and machines. There was still a long way to go. Rosemary had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

It was then that the Healthcare Team of the Churches of our insurance.

I had just started a new job as a training engineer and I was only six weeks in a one -year contract. Katie worked seasonally and collected random winter work. I thought I had benefits – at least, I thought I had done it, but in some previous works I had had to be employed for six months before the coverage began.

I had never considered that I could not be covered.

That moment struck me like a brick. I had been ignorant. I had been privileged. I had always taken the health cover for granted, and now my daughter’s life depended on it.

It was the moment when I realized: the Canadian health system is not truly universal, not until the pharmacy is part of it.

The Canadians love to boast of our health system. It is part of our national pride – something that makes us different from our neighbors in the South. We like to think of taking care of each other and considering health care a right.

But what’s the use of a doctor’s visit if you can’t afford the drugs they prescribe?

In the case of Rosemary, the aerial bridge, specialists, machines, drugs, devices, infusions, blood transfusion and three -week hospital hospitalization were all covered to be medicated.

But the drugs and devices that support the life you need daily to live with type 1 diabetes? Those they are not guaranteed under medication.

In fact, Canada is The only country of universal health care without universal coverage of drugs. Several provinces provide variable levels of coverage of drugs and often have separate programs for different types of medical supplies. Some people rely on private insurance plans or provided by the employer, creating the need to coordinate between provincial systems, insurers and medical companies. It can be a difficult system to navigate.

That’s why, as a voter, I am looking for a federal party that supports the universal pharmaca.

The liberal government, with the support of the ENP, approved legislation for a Pharmacy plan at national level in October 2024committing $ 1.5 billion for birth control and diabetes drugs. It is progress, but the pharmacy remains fragile and needs political will to survive. Each province and territory must access. Manitoba was the first to Februarywith B.C AND PEI followed in March.

Type 1 diabetes does not care. For rosemary, this is not a temporary care: it is a need for life and is expensive. Type 1 diabetes can It costs up to $ 18.306 per year ON-OF-TASK. Millions of Canadian insulin rations, cut the pills in half or go without drugs because they cannot afford it.

Without insulin, the rosemary would die. Without glucose monitor, blind fly, constantly fearing Dangerously low levels of blood sugar that could leave it unconscious, bearing OR died In an instant. These are not optional supplies: they are essential for its survival.

We have not yet seen the full advantage of Pharmacare: it is still at the beginning. He must nourish to become something that can take care of us and take care of my daughter a long time after I left.

Still, his future seems uncertain.

The conservative party voted against the law initially and its leader, Pierre Poilievre, he said he would “rejected the radical plan for a” single paid “drug plan.” Since the elections were called, he said this Nobody who currently receives benefits, like dental care, would lose them. Since no benefits of pharmacian have not yet been emitted (since the provinces and Ottawa are still elaborating the details), its formulation leaves the door open to end the program even before it starts.

The liberals frame the pharmacy as something “For all those who need it” which also seems a step back from Previous party commitment Before his leadership changed. The NDP AND Greens continue to support Universal pharmacare, while the Bloc defends Quebec’s right to maintain its separate system.

As a professional engineer, I have experience with preventive maintenance in property management. People also need regular care: crises are increasingly expensive. That’s why I support the pharmacy; There are economies of scale in drugs for the purchase of Massa and Universal Pharmacare is designed to take advantage of the lower costs.

But beyond the numbers, Pharmacare would also provide true freedom for me and my daughter.

The freedom to take a job I prefer, not just one that offers a drug plan. The freedom to challenge opportunities or start an activity without worrying when the benefits enter. Freedom for my daughter to celebrate her degree and not worry about the insurance. Freedom for parents like me and Katie to focus on their child’s health without stressing us on our bank balance and fight to pay other invoices.

At this moment, we don’t have that freedom. As long as I am here, I will fight for the health of Rosemary, but I fear that the day will have to fight alone. Medicare saved my daughter. Pharmacare will keep it in life.

No parent should set an emergency plane bridge and wonder if they can afford drugs and medical supplies to keep their child alive.

This is what I will think about when I expressed my vote in these federal elections.

What is the only problem that matters most for you in these federal elections? CBC News will publish a series of perspectives of the voters who share the personal experience that moderate their choice to the polls. More information firsthand columns relating to the elections here.