The City of Calgary and GreenShield expand access to essential medications for people facing barriers to care

A new pilot partnership between The City of Calgary’s Fair Entry program and GreenShield will improve access to essential prescription medications for Calgarians facing barriers to care.

Through the partnership, eligible Fair Entry clients can be referred to GreenShield’s Essential Medicines program (EMP), which provides no-cost access to select essential prescription medications for up to 12 months. The program helps people who do not have prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need to manage their well-being, with continuity and reliability.

GreenShield is Canada’s only national non-profit health care and insurance organization. As a non-profit without shareholders, GreenShield reinvests its excess earnings to advance health equity through social impact initiatives like the Essential Medicines program. Fair Entry is The City’s single access point to multiple subsidy programs, with eligibility based on income, residency and, in some cases, age. By combining Fair Entry eligibility with GreenShield’s existing EMP, the partnership reduces barriers to access while supporting more seamless care.

“It’s important everyone knows they belong in Calgary. As increasing costs and inflation continue to add pressure to families across our city, and in every community, it’s important the City of Calgary is a part of the solution,” said Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas. “Fair Entry is helping families who need it, and by reducing barriers, we are making a city that truly is the best place to live, work or raise a family, no matter who you are.”

Launched in 2023, GreenShield’s EMP was designed to ensure individuals without prescription drug coverage can access the medications they need. Since its launch, the program has supported more than 11,000 individuals across multiple provinces in accessing essential medications and enabled over 16,000 prescriptions to be filled. 

“Access to essential medications should be a right, not a privilege,” said Mandy Mail, Executive Vice President, Head of GreenShield Cares. “Through this partnership with The City of Calgary, our program is removing barriers, so people can access the medicines they need without having to make difficult life trade-offs.”

This pilot partnership aligns with Fair Entry’s mandate to reduce red tape and improve access by connecting Calgarians living with low income to critical services through a centralized intake. Fair Entry clients who meet program criteria can be connected directly to GreenShield’s Essential Medicines program.

Fair Entry launched in 2015 and enables eligible Calgarians to access multiple City and partner subsidy programs through one application. Approvals are based on income, residency and applicable program criteria, and are valid for a 12-month period. There are currently 130,000 Calgarians approved for Fair Entry.

More information is available at calgary.ca/FairEntry.

About Fair EntryFair Entry is The City of Calgary’s single application process for Calgarians living with low income to access a range of fee‑reduced programs and services, including transit, recreation, property tax and more, offered by The City and its 
partners.

About GreenShield
As Canada’s only national non-profit health care and insurance organization, GreenShield believes health care is a right, not a privilege. We’re dedicated to improving health outcomes, driving systemic change, and building a future where every Canadian can reach their full health and well-being potential.

Courtesy: The City of Calgary Newsroom