Neil Palmer | Independent Consultant |
ABSTRACT –
The promise of substantial additional cost savings from so-called “bulk purchasing” has long underpinned the push toward a national pharmacare program. But the promise may be fleeting. Federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments already exercise significant monopsony buying power through the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) – the agency that negotiates confidential rebates for all publicly funded pharmaceuticals in Canada. It is unlikely there are significantly more savings to be had.
Citation: Palmer, N. (2025). Bulk purchasing for innovative pharmaceuticals – proceed with caution. Canadian Health Policy, DEC 2025. www.canadianhealthpolicy.com.