Do you think it's fair that politicians and bureaucrats should enjoy better drug coverage than seniors who are dependant on provincial drug benefit plans?

If not, here's what you can do:

1. Send this copy of CARP ACTION ONLINE to as many of your friends as possible. Click on the SEND TO A FRIEND button at the upper right hand corner of this page.

2. Get behind CARP's NO MORE WAITING campaign. Check out the website here. Tell all your friends about it.

3. Encourage your friends and colleagues to join CARP, and to support our NO MORE WAITING campaign.

4. Let your elected representative know how you feel. The best way to contact them is through CARP E-VOICE, our convenient e-mail system that quickly and conveniently connects you to your elected representative. Click here to go to E-VOICE now.

The findings of CARP's new research study underline the importance of our NO MORE WAITING campaign for better health care.

The campaign, launched at the end of October, makes three demands for better health care in Canada:

1. Guaranteed wait times for 19 key medical procedures. If the system can't deliver the treatment within the guarantee period, the government would have to pay to have the treatment done somewhere else.

2. Reimbursement, in provincial drug benefit plans, of all drugs approved by Health Canada.

3. $2 billion to be earmarked by the federal government for caregiver respite.

The fact that provinces like Ontario and BC aren't even covering the 27 drugs already recommended for reimbursement, shows how far we have to go on the second demand for better drug coverage. "The results of this study are disturbing," says CARP President Lillian Morgenthau. "Access to medicines is an essential part of ensuring the health and quality of life of the 50-plus. Why shouldn't our members -- and indeed, all Canadians who rely on these drug benefit programs -- have access to the same medicines as politicians and bureaucrats? We believe Canadians deserve better and are owed an answer."