Dr. Eric Hoskins once observed that Canadians spend too much on prescription drugs. He likened it to "paying $60 dollars for a cup of coffee at Tim Horton's".

Dr. Hoskins was the minister of health in Ontario until February, when he resigned to become Chair of the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare.

Canada is the only industrialized country with universal medicare that does not provide universal coverage for prescription medications.

One in ten Canadians are unable to fill a prescription because they can't afford it.

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• Doctors need to know the cost of the drugs they prescribe

This results in complications from untreated conditions, emergency room visits and unnecessarily poor health.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates that a national pharmacare program for all Canadians would save about $4.2 billion dollars a year.

This April, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health recommended that Canada create a universal single-payer national pharmacare program.

As Ontario's Minister of Health, Dr. Hoskins expanded the province's health insurance program to give all young people under 25 free access to prescription medicines. Now, he's consulting Canadians across the country about how to implement a national system.

This Wednesday, the Council members were announced. This summer they will be crossing the country to consult with stakeholders.