The Atlantic Provinces are taking a long look at pharmacare.
Premier Stephen McNeil met with his regional counterparts last week to discuss how to improve publicly funded drug plans.
Health Minister Leo Glavine hopes to see savings on drugs by using the buying power of four provinces.
“We have to look for every advantage around procurement, around administrative efficiencies that, can again, give the best price to our citizens.”
He says getting the program right is a top priority.
“There’s no question as we move from that 65 through the elder years, medications certainly are used in higher frequency.”
Changes announced last year around seniors pharmacare were quickly withdrawn following an outcry from affected Nova Scotians.
Glavine says there will be no changes in the program until at least 2019 as the provinces explore their options.
He says planned consultations on Nova Scotia’s seniors pharmacare program will be put off until it is known what the regional options will be.
Glavine says whatever proposals come out of this process will be brought to seniors for their input.