Ontario is taking the lead on this. Quebec’s “best available price” rules mean that it will likely follow suit. And the pressure will build for the other provinces to show their taxpayers how they will ensure value for money in public spending for drugs if they do not adopt similar rules.

So why are the drug store chains complaining?

Perhaps because they were not providing any real services for the rebates they were getting since if they were, they could now get direct compensation for them rather than relying on the rebates from the drug companies. Instead of threatening to fire pharmacists or to close stores, they could be negotiating for higher fees for the much needed professional advice that we could get from the pharmacists.

This campaign is putting pharmacists in an untenable conflict with their duties to their patients/customers. This situation shines a light on the difference in interests between the drug store owners and the pharmacists they employ.

It is clear that the business model has to change for single pharmacies as well as the national drug store chains. The public has no obligation to support the prevailing profit margins that these monopoly businesses have gotten used to and should protest loudly if they are held to ransom in this campaign.