Results from an experimental program that provides free prescription drugs to hundreds of people in Ontario suggest covering the cost of medication produces overall savings for the health-care system, according to a new study.
The research, published Friday in the journal JAMA Health Forum, tracked a total of 747 patients who reported that the high cost of drugs has forced them to leave prescriptions unfilled or stretch out the time between doses. About half were randomly selected to have their drugs fully covered.
After three years, the researchers found that providing prescriptions free of charge to these patients saved the public health-care
