If you take medication for your health, you must ensure to take proper steps to get access to medications as a newcomer in Canada. 

There are two main classes of medications for newcomers in Canada: 

  • Over-the-counter drugs: These include the drugs purchased legally by any person without a prescription or written permission from the doctor. 
  • Prescription drugs: It includes these drugs which are only for the person to whom they are prescribed. To access these drugs, one needs a prescription from the doctor, which you can then bring into a pharmacy in order to get medication. 

Moreover, you can check if the medication you take needs a prescription in Canada on the government’s Prescription Drug List. This is an excellent way to ensure that the medication you take is legal in Canada & if you need a prescription to purchase them. 

Generally, Health Canada lets you enter the country with medication required for a single-course treatment or a 90-day supply, whichever is less, of both over-the-counter medication & prescription medication. In order to avoid any issues as a newcomer in Canada, it is suggested to bring these medications in retail or pharmacy-dispensed packaging or to have a label attached to the container to indicate what it contains. 

How Can I Fill My Prescription In Canada? 

You aren’t permitted to use a foreign prescription to get prescription medication. Instead, you must obtain a prescription from a Canadian doctor. There are a few ways to do this: 

  • Walk-in Clinic

A walk-in clinic enables the patient to come & visit the doctor. This is a fast & short-term way to get a prescription. Moreover, it is an excellent alternative for people in Canada on temporary stays. However, wait time at walk-in clinics can be a bit long. So, ensure to bring your foreign prescription with you. 

  • Family Doctor

In case you plan to stay in the country for an extended time period, you must get a family doctor. This is a slow, longer-term alternative, as you will see your doctor so that they can monitor your health. Family doctors are regulated provincially; thus, you will have to contact your provincial health authority for further information. 

  • On-campus Doctor 

If you are a foreign student, your school will provide medical services available on & off-campus. You can contact your school so that they can help you get a prescription.

Canadian Health Insurance 

Canada has a free universal healthcare system. As a newcomer in Canada, you can access Medicare, a publicly funded health service. Through it, basic medical services, like hospital stays, doctor visits, & diagnostic tests, are free or provided at a fraction of the cost. Well, these services are primarily funded & delivered by every province, so the specifics of what is covered might vary from province to province. Unfortunately, Medicare does not always extend to prescription drugs. 

If you are a permanent resident, you are entitled to Medicare. Any prescription drugs which are given to you while you are in the hospital are covered by the health care system. However, any medication you get elsewhere, like from the pharmacy, won’t be covered. 

Some provinces have provincial prescription drug plans that you might be able to register for. Moreover, many employers in Canada will offer health plans covering some costs associated with prescription medication for their employees. 

Furthermore, if you are a temporary resident, it is advised that you get private health insurance. In case you are going to need prescription drugs, consult with an insurance provider to see what costs are covered by insurance & which ones aren’t. In addition, some provinces require that you reside in the province for a specific time frame before you can have access to provincial healthcare plans. So, consider buying insurance in the meantime!

National Pharma Care Plan 

Canada is the only nation which has a universal healthcare system. However, it does not have universal coverage for prescription drugs outside of hospitals.   

The government of Canada has committed to passing the Canada Pharmacare Act this year. The act would establish universal pharma care in the nation. This implies that all Canadian residents would have access to prescription drugs, which would be publicly funded by the government & based on medical requirements, not the ability to pay.