Pharmacists give final push

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The clock is literally ticking on Ontario pharmacies' attempt to save professional allowances from the province's axe.

On the website of Ontario's Community Pharmacies, a digital clock marks two days until the government wraps up public input on Bill 16 -- a piece of legislation that would halt the system of professional allowances, and in turn, prescribe the loss of direct patient care services, according to Ontario pharmacists.

Locally, pharmacies are putting their final push together to raise public awareness about the bill's potential pitfalls for patient care. They have collected thousands of signatures on petitions that will land on the desk of the provincial government. Pharmacists will be hand delivering them to Queen's Park on Friday.
"We're right down to the wire to get the information out to the public," said Blair Snow, co-owner and pharmacist with the local Roulston's franchise.

However, the public has been receptive to the plight of pharmacies, he says. He has already shipped off the bulk of his petitions.

"Down in this neck of the woods we're getting great support and I'm assuming across the province," he added.

Port Rowan pharmacist Glenn Coon has also seen an optimistic outpouring of support. He has fielded plenty of questions and seen his petition sheets be "filled up like crazy."

"Hopefully, there will be enough signatures there to show the (health) minister that they can't ignore small town healthcare," he said.

He has calculated that 87% of his business comes from filling prescriptions. And 70% of those prescriptions are doled out to users of the Ontario Drug Benefit plan. Those include seniors who often rely on direct patient care services, from convenient blister packaging through to counselling services, that are on the chopping block.

"There won't be one pharmacy in Ontario that won't be hit," Coon said of the cuts, "but especially the small independent pharmacies will be hardest hit."

He has even delivered this message personally to Queen's Park. He and fellow Pharmasave owners presented to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. He feels that the committee, on which local MPP Toby Barrett sits, understands "the devastating impact that this will would have on small independent pharmacies."

The provincial reform would end the industry's professional allowance system, resulting in the loss of $750 million annually to Ontario pharmacies. These funds are provided to pharmacies from the pockets of drug companies to finance direct patient care services. While the reform would initially only impact the Ontario Drug Benefit plan, it would later rolled out to individuals, employers and insurers.

The Ministry of Health and LongTerm Care has touted the bill as a method to ensure fair drug prices. The prices of generic drugs will be slashed by 50%.

To offset some of the loss, the ministry will roll out increased dispensing fees initially for Ontario Drug Benefit prescriptions. Rural or underserviced pharmacies could have their dispensing fees increased by up to $4. But what constitutes either rural or underserviced has yet to be seen.

"They can change the rules any time," Coon said, "and I'm fairly upset they're not talking about what will replace professional allowances."

Ontario's Community Pharmacies will announce details of its recommendations to the standing committee at Queen's Park today. The provincial government has declared May 8 the final day for public input to its pharmaceutical reforms.