It seems the McGuinty Government just can't get it right
Posted By GEORGE CHANDLER
Posted 5 months ago
The Government of Ontario is in line to save billions-- yes, folks, the b-word again; billions of dollars in the next five years. How and why? Because the patents have run out on several brand name drugs and there will be many more.
Patients will be switched to generic medicines that cost the government half as much. Two high-demand drugs that are now available in generic form are Prevacid for ulcer treatment and Lipitor Norvasc for blood pressure. Others that will drive down cost in the coming expiry of patented major brand name pharmaceuticals include heart medicines Crestor, Plavix and, our favourite, Diovan. As well, pain relief medications Celebrex and Oxycontin patents will expire.
That's the good tidings; the disturbing news is that the government will continue to squeeze more money out of the health system. Instead of investing in the delivery system, the government is looking to not just hold the line but reduce funding to our community pharmacies.
Less funding will mean fewer pharmacies on duty, increased waiting times for prescriptions, shorter operating hours for dispensing, and the very strong possibility without substantial revisions to the proposed regulations, many Ontario chain community pharmacies, particularly those in rural areas, will be placed in economic peril, threatening both patient access and the provision of patient care services.
Russell Cohen, chair of the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS), points out that in today's world pharmacies provide a wide range of services that are not funded adequately or at all by the public health system.
"These include home infusions of intravenous drugs, services to long-term care facilities and providing disease state management programs for patients with diabetes, heart disease, asthma and other chronic conditions. Such extended pharmacy services are seeing rapidly increasing demand as the population ages, and pharmacists' knowledge and skills are increasingly being employed in these areas. Now, with drug costs falling, we can work together to fund these important health services properly. It is an historic opportunity."
So, the data shows that, with a large number of high volume drugs coming off patent between 2009 and 2014, the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) plan will glean an unprecedented windfall of savings as patients covered by the government program are switched to less-expensive generic versions of their medications.
In addition, to the large number of brand name drug patents expiring, the government has created additional cost savings by negotiating rebates with brand name companies, in exchange for adding them to the ODB formulary. Under Ontario regulations, generics are reimbursed at no more than 50% of the brand price, both brand and generic. It is well-established that, in the absence of professional allowances, a key part of overall pharmacy funding, pharmacies actually lose money on most ODB prescriptions that are filled, both brand and generic!
Adding to the pain of the pharmacies, the drug manufacturers want payment within 15 days of delivery while the government takes 60 or more days to compensate. The smaller community drug store can have well over $300,000 tied up in drug inventory at any given time. Community pharmacies need a realistic compensation plan not more cuts.
The McGuinty government has cut funding for eye care, physiotherapy, and chiropractics. Don't let it put you in the position where you will have to travel distances to get your prescription filled.
Tell your MPP or Health Minister David Caplan not to cut your Pharmacy Care. 400chandler@gmail.com
