In Canada we often pride ourselves on having a universal healthcare system that covers everyone who needs it when they need it. But is that indeed the case? In a day and age when medications are the mainstay of medical management, Canada remains the only industrialized nation with a universal system that does not include medications. For this reason, an estimated 1 in 4 people in Canada have gone without filling a prescription due to cost. As well, an estimated half a million people in Canada cannot access healthcare due to their immigration status. This includes new immigrants, temporary foreign workers, international students, nonstatus individuals and even returning Canadian citizens. These gaps have led to drastic financial, physical and emotional consequences for too many for too long. There are solutions. It’s time to make them happen.