Free access to prescription drugs
With the programs providing free access to prescription drugs, supplies and services, eligible persons can receive at no cost the health care they require according to their situation. Persons insured by the Québec Health Insurance Plan can obtain these drugs, supplies and services at their pharmacy. Only the services received in Québec are reimbursable.
Sexually transmitted and blood-borne diseases
The Free Drug Program for the Treatment of Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Diseases (STDs) is intended for persons suffering from an infection targeted by the program and those who have been in contact with such persons. The program provides, free of charge, for certain drugs prescribed to treat infections.
- Clinical symptoms associated with STDs: Inflammation of the pelvis, fallopian tubes (salpingitis), cervix (cervicitis), urethra (uretritis), rectum (rectitis), anus (proctitis) or epididymis (epididymitis)
- Chlamydiosis
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- Soft chancre, lymphogranuloma venereum, granuloma inguinale
- Mycoplasma genitalium
- Obtain a prescription from a physician or a nurse
- Present the following documents to your pharmacist:
- Your prescription
- Your valid Health Insurance Card
- Your valid claim slip (carnet de réclamation), if you are a recipient of a financial assistance program with claim slip (carnet de réclamation)
Naloxone to treat opioid overdoses
The Program respecting the provision of the medication naloxone and certain supplies free of charge allows for rapid intervention when persons overdose on opioids. It covers naloxone and the supplies necessary to administer it.
Naloxone is sold without a prescription, under pharmaceutical control. To obtain it, present the following documents to the pharmacist:
- Your valid Health Insurance Card
- Your valid claim slip (carnet de réclamation), if you are a recipient of a financial assistance program with claim slip (carnet de réclamation)
Urgent care and other special circumstances
Without having to present your Health Insurance Card, you can obtain naloxone and related supplies in certain circumstances. For instance if you are:
- in need of urgent care
- a minor age 14 or over
- homeless
- a person not residing in Québec (you will have to present an identity document, such as a passport)
Abortion pill to interrupt a pregnancy
The Program for free universal access to voluntary medical termination of pregnancy (abortion pill) enables women who wish to terminate a pregnancy of 9 weeks or less to obtain the abortion pill free of charge. The Program also covers certain drugs related to a voluntary termination of pregnancy, notably, those used to control nausea.
- Obtain a prescription from a physician or a nurse
- Present the following documents to your pharmacist:
- Your prescription
- Your valid Health Insurance Card
- Your valid claim slip (carnet de réclamation), if you are a recipient of a financial assistance program with claim slip (carnet de réclamation)
Obtaining the abortion pill from a physician
Physicians can also supply the abortion pill for free under certain conditions. This is the case, for example, if they practice in a clinic providing voluntary termination of pregnancy services.
The abortion pill is used to terminate a pregnancy that has been confirmed by a physician. It is not to be confused with the “morning-after pill” (emergency oral contraception).
The morning-after pill is an emergency contraceptive that may be used for up to 5 days after unprotected sex.
Pharmaceutical treatments for COVID-19
The Community Pharmacy Access Program for Certain COVID-19 Pharmaceutical Treatments provides you, free of charge, with treatments based on your situation.
PaxlovidTM
If you are at risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19, PaxlovidTM may reduce the severity of your symptoms.
You must meet certain specific criteria, for example:
- Have had symptoms for 5 days or less
- Not be hospitalized with COVID-19
Present the following documents at your pharmacy:
- A prescription from a physician, a specialized nurse practitioner or a pharmacist
- Your valid Health Insurance Card
- Your valid claim slip (carnet de réclamation), if you are a recipient of a financial assistance program with claim slip (carnet de réclamation)
You must meet certain specific criteria, for example:
- Have had symptoms for 5 days or less
- Not be hospitalized with COVID-19
Particular situations
If you do not have a Health Insurance Card, you may obtain a treatment for COVID-19 under certain circumstances, for example if:
- You are homeless
- You usually live in Québec or are settled there, but are not eligible for health insurance
Tuberculosis or chemoprophylaxis
The Free Drug Program for Chemoprophylaxis and the Treatment of Tuberculosis is intended for persons suffering from tuberculosis and those having been in contact with someone with tuberculosis. The program provides, free of charge, the drugs prescribed to treat tuberculosis or to prevent it.
- Obtain a prescription from a physician or a nurse
- Present the following documents to your pharmacist:
- Your prescription
- Your valid Health Insurance Card
- Your valid claim slip (carnet de réclamation), if you are a recipient of a financial assistance program with claim slip (carnet de réclamation)
If you have to pay for prescription drugs and pharmaceutical services
You may have to pay for prescription drugs and services provided by your pharmacist if you do not present your valid Health Insurance Card and, if applicable, your valid claim slip (carnet de réclamation). However, you can apply for a reimbursement by going back to your pharmacy with the necessary documents.