Please follow at The NL Pharmacy Blog - your community and health care services are being eroded.
New Drug pricing policy for April of 2013 will continue to erode the
viability of independent pharmacies in Newfoundland and Labrador.
These
changes are subsequent to the (non)negotiations held last year with
provincially chosen pharmacy groups - resulting in an imposed contract.
The remuneration was supposed to reflect that generic drug prices would
be reduced to 35% of brand.
The Dunderdale government
has now signed on to a reduction for 6 generic drugs to a price of 18%
of brand. These drugs represent approximately 20% of the pharmaceutical
dispensing. Therefore the "contract" reached last year ties pharmacies
to dispensing fees that will not in any way offset these additional
reductions.
Further pharmacies, physicians, and other
health care advocates are already warning that drug shortages are
impacting patient care. This new reduction in price will increase the
likelihood that drug shortages will become more acute.
The
CICPO is holding its AGM this weekend - after which a News Release will
be distributed. This year's Annual General Meeting will focus on
results presented by Dr. Wade Locke regarding the future viability of
the independent pharmacy model. Dr. Locke has completed the in depth
study over the past 6 months - and it will be made public by month's
end.
The future for independent pharmacy both in rural
communities and inner-city neighbourhoods will in large part depend on
the willingness of government to realize the value and potential of
these businesses and primary health providers.
More to follow....
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