GreenShield has expanded its Essential Medicines Program to Nova Scotia and Alberta, bringing free prescription drug access to underserved Canadians who lack coverage through private or public plans.
The non-profit health and benefits company’s program provides 12 months of access to essential prescription medications worth up to $1,000 at no cost to eligible individuals without drug coverage. Medications are dispensed, shipped and supported through GreenShield’s pharmacy.
The expansion builds on the program’s 2023 launch in Ontario and addresses a significant gap, as over one million Canadians lack prescription drug coverage.
Program addresses healthcare affordability crisis
“Nearly 70 years ago, our journey began in a Windsor pharmacy, where a mother faced an impossible choice between her health and her child’s,” said Zahid Salman, president and CEO of Windsor, Ont.-based GreenShield. “Today, that same belief drives us: no Canadian should have to choose between health and affordability.”
The program works through customized, community-based partnerships that reflect the unique needs of each region.
Regional partnerships target local needs
In Nova Scotia, GreenShield works through a referral-based partnership with IONS (Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia), connecting with local organizations whose staff and clients need access to essential medicines.
“It definitely took a large chunk of stress out of things,” said Emily McCallum, a part-time student and nanny managing fibromyalgia. “Even if a doctor changes my medication, I don’t have to panic about whether I can afford it.”
In Alberta, the program is being piloted in partnership with The Alex Community Health Centre in Calgary, which has served the city’s most vulnerable residents for over 50 years.
“We see people delay or abandon treatment because they simply can’t afford it,” said Bethan Simms, director of primary care at The Alex. “GreenShield’s partnership has been essential for creating a responsive and supportive environment for our team’s needs.”
Broader social impact goals
The Essential Medicines program is one of several initiatives under the GreenShield Cares social impact platform. As a purpose-driven, non-profit organization, GreenShield reinvests its services and excess earnings to improve the health and well-being of underserved populations.
“As we expand to more provinces, the impact of our Essential Medicines program will grow—not just in prescriptions filled, but in lives impacted,” said Mandy Mail, executive vice president of GreenShield Cares.
According to its 2024 Impact Report, GreenShield has invested over $59 million and positively impacted nearly 750,000 lives. The organization aims to invest $75 million to improve the lives of at least one million Canadians by the end of 2025.
