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WINNIPEG — Provincial and territorial health ministers say they are interested in exploring a national pharmacare program and other initiatives — but only if the federal government pays its share.

At the end of the first day of their annual meeting, several health ministers called on Ottawa to put up more money if it wants a pharmacare program, new mental-health treatments and opioid addictions services.

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“The No. 1 question today (is) what funding role will Ottawa be taking,” Quebec’s Gaetan Barrette said Thursday.

“We want to provide more services. We understand what’s at stake. We understand the need. We also live on a daily basis with limitations we have … because of funding.”

Barrette said the issue would be discussed further on Friday when federal Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor and Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott were to join the discussion.

The provincial ministers said Ottawa’s annual health-transfer increases, which were reduced last year to three per cent from six per cent — are not keeping up with the rising cost of health care.