Final answer:
The main purpose of Pharmacare in British Columbia is to help residents with the cost of eligible prescription drugs. It aims to reduce the financial burden for healthcare, which is especially important for elderly and disabled populations requiring multiple prescriptions. Option C is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary purpose of Pharmacare, particularly in the context of British Columbia (BC), Canada, is C) Assisting BC residents with the cost of eligible prescription drugs. This program helps residents by reducing the financial burden associated with purchasing necessary medications prescribed by a healthcare provider. For many, especially the elderly and disabled who may require multiple prescriptions, such cost assistance is vital to ensuring access to much-needed medical care, including prescription drugs, medical supplies, and other healthcare services.
In the larger context of public healthcare systems like Medicare, which predominantly serves those over the age of sixty-five, such prescription drug benefits are crucial. The introduction of benefits under the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 aimed to alleviate the high costs of medications, echoing Pharmacare's commitment to improving medication accessibility by offering substantial discounts, thereby benefiting the patients, including elderly patients who often interface with pharmacists for their prescriptions.