Sue's Blog featured two posts on the "secret committee" of government responsible for advising the Minister of Health regarding new listings of generics on our formulary.
Please read Press Here Part 1 and Press Here Part 2
Further to these posts - I would like to inform the people of Newfoundland and Labrador that we have lost almost 1 million dollars more from January - April of 2012.
Many of you are familiar with Plavix - a drug that helps to prevent future risks of heart attacks and strokes.
In Canada it is estimated that the introduction of the generic form of Plavix would save Canadians and provincial drug plans hundreds of millions a year.
The sales of Plavix are estimated to be 300 million a year - Newfoundland and Labrador's portion is 6.6 million.
The cost of Plavix versus the cost of the generic equivalent is about double.
The generic version was approved by Health Canada, December 2011 and was listed by several provinces by January 2012.
4 months will have passed before Newfoundland and Labrador gets the benefit of the new generic. That means that we will have spent $1,650,000 when we could have spent $822,500 if the generic was listed in a timely manner.
Why would people in Nova Scotia or Ontario get timely access when we do not?
Why are we wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars in health care when we have people crying out for surgery to remove access skin - or waiting on cardiac surgeries?
Over the next few days I will list a dozen more examples of extreme waste in our system.
When will the Opposition parties demand answers?
When will the media ask questions?
What is going on in this secret committee? Will government release the minutes of their deliberations?
Remember now this is only one drug. Imagine what dollars have been and continue to be wasted.
The Auditor General needs to be called in. Investigation needed.
Showing posts with label cardiac. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cardiac. Show all posts
Monday, March 12, 2012
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Will Dunderdale, Ball, or Michael investigate? $$$$ LOST!
We have now entered a time-frame industry people like to call the Patent Cliff.
Over the next 5 years residents of Newfoundland and Labrador as with all other jurisdictions in Canada and the USA should experience an extreme reduction in the price of essential commonly prescribed medications.
As these new generics enter the marketplace - our government should act immediately to replace the brand drugs on our formulary. This will save us tens of millions of dollars.
Unfortunately we still have a secret committee determining when our tax dollars will be used wisely.
If you can buy the drug in New Brunswick, Alberta, or Ontario - why not here in our province?
Why are our hospitals permitted to dispense drugs that our retail pharmacies cannot?
Why does our government pay brand prices when savings of 40 per cent and more are available?
Sue's Blog will layout some of the financial losses our government has allowed of our essential health care dollars.
We also need to discuss and understand if there are any potential conflicts within the secret committee that answers only to the Minister - and NOT the House of Assembly. We need to know if any member of the committee has any dealings with the drug companies - outside of the committee - and whether those dealings are commercial in nature.
Is it possible that any committee members - who have the power of recommendation to the Minister of Health - could use that power in commercial dealings?
Do the Brand Drug Houses lobby any of the committee members - in any way whatsoever?
You see something is not right here. We are losing tens of millions of dollars and nothing is being done about it. Sound Familiar?
Open and Transparent - right? Public Accounts - spending our money wisely right?
Where is the investigative journalism? Where are the NDP members on this - they are the champions of health care right?
Over the next 5 years residents of Newfoundland and Labrador as with all other jurisdictions in Canada and the USA should experience an extreme reduction in the price of essential commonly prescribed medications.
As these new generics enter the marketplace - our government should act immediately to replace the brand drugs on our formulary. This will save us tens of millions of dollars.
Unfortunately we still have a secret committee determining when our tax dollars will be used wisely.
If you can buy the drug in New Brunswick, Alberta, or Ontario - why not here in our province?
Why are our hospitals permitted to dispense drugs that our retail pharmacies cannot?
Why does our government pay brand prices when savings of 40 per cent and more are available?
Sue's Blog will layout some of the financial losses our government has allowed of our essential health care dollars.
We also need to discuss and understand if there are any potential conflicts within the secret committee that answers only to the Minister - and NOT the House of Assembly. We need to know if any member of the committee has any dealings with the drug companies - outside of the committee - and whether those dealings are commercial in nature.
Is it possible that any committee members - who have the power of recommendation to the Minister of Health - could use that power in commercial dealings?
Do the Brand Drug Houses lobby any of the committee members - in any way whatsoever?
You see something is not right here. We are losing tens of millions of dollars and nothing is being done about it. Sound Familiar?
Open and Transparent - right? Public Accounts - spending our money wisely right?
Where is the investigative journalism? Where are the NDP members on this - they are the champions of health care right?
Friday, March 02, 2012
Pharmacists' Awareness Week 2012
Please visit the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Blog as the Council of Independent Community Pharmacy Owners recognize their valued employees during Pharmacists' Awareness Week.
Press HERE
Press HERE
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
"Talk with Sue and Shannon" takes on Pharmacy Issue this Sunday
Listen to "Talk with Sue and Shannon" Newfoundland and Labrador's newest talk-show this Sunday evening at 8 pm NL time as we explore the pharmacy issue.
There will also be a pharmacist/owner on hand to answer questions about the independent pharmacy model, medication and disease management (diabetes, cardiac, asthma, and other chronic disease), pharmacy services, the court challenge, other provinces, generic drugs versus brand name, saving money for government and patients/customers and the role of pharmacy in the future.
Find out where there are inefficiencies in the government system that are wasting tens of millions of taxpayer dollars.
Please take the time to listen in and become involved in this area of front-line health that affects you, your family, and community.
To take in the show please PRESS HERE
There will also be a pharmacist/owner on hand to answer questions about the independent pharmacy model, medication and disease management (diabetes, cardiac, asthma, and other chronic disease), pharmacy services, the court challenge, other provinces, generic drugs versus brand name, saving money for government and patients/customers and the role of pharmacy in the future.
Find out where there are inefficiencies in the government system that are wasting tens of millions of taxpayer dollars.
Please take the time to listen in and become involved in this area of front-line health that affects you, your family, and community.
To take in the show please PRESS HERE
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