FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CARP calls for Retraction of Misleading advertising by Pharmacists
April 20, 2010
TORONTO, ON: CARP calls for Retraction of Misleading Advertising by Pharmacists which deliberately misquotes a voluntary chairperson of a local CARP chapter.
Bruce Draper, the Chair of CARP’S Windsor-Essex chapter is inappropriately and without his consent or knowledge misquoted in a full page ad run in the Peterborough Examiner today by the people behind www.stopcuts.ca as saying “The McGuinty Government’s health care cuts will hurt seniors”
“I and our members fully support the proposed changes to reduce the cost of generic drugs. What I actually said to the media was that IF the drug stores retaliate by shutting stores, reducing hours or withholding services as they are threatening to do, then seniors will be hurt – but by the retaliation not by the government proposals. At no time did I give the pharmacists association permission to use my name and certainly not to misquote me”, said Bruce Draper, the Chair of CARP’S Windsor-Essex chapter.
CARP members welcome the announcement of proposed reform to Ontario’s Drug System which will lower the cost of generic drugs for all Ontarians and expand patient services provided by pharmacists.
In a poll of CARP ActionOnline readers, 91% of the over 3,200 respondents fully support the proposed changes and reject the retaliatory action taken by the drug store chains. [Please see poll results attached]. The poll was issued the week after the announced changes.
“Our members are still making a clear distinction between the pharmacists and the drug store chains which are threatening this retaliatory action but that could easily change if the drug stores and pharmacists continue to target seniors in their messaging. Their fight is with the government and they should take their arguments directly to the Minister of Health and not try to improperly involve our members in their campaign. Whoever is behind the website www.Stopcuts.ca should first identify themselves and then delete the quote they attribute to our Windsor Chapter chair,” said Susan Eng, Vice President, Advocacy of CARP
The Province announced on April 7, 2010 that the price paid for generic drugs will be reduced from 50 to 25 per cent of the original brand name drug. This will take place immediately for generic drugs covered by the Ontario public drug plan and phased in over 3 years for those purchased directly by patients or reimbursed by private drug plans.
So called “professional allowances” which generic drug companies pay to pharmacies ostensibly for patient services and then factored into the price charged for the drug will be eliminated, immediately for those covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan and phased out for all other purchases.
The savings from these measures will be used to increase dispensing fees and payments for professional services actually provided by pharmacists.
“Lowering the cost of all prescription drugs is a major priority for our members, regardless of whether they are covered by the Ontario government, private drug plans or paid out of their own pockets. They and all Ontarians will benefit from the direct savings in drug costs and redirection of the public savings from these measures towards more patient services and support of pharmacies in rural and under-serviced regions. We welcome the improvement to affordability and potential for more access to new drugs and will encourage similar measures in the rest of the provinces,” added Eng
CARP is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to advocating for a New Vision of Aging for Canada, social change that will bring financial security, equitable access to health care and freedom from discrimination. CARP seeks to ensure that the marketplace serves the needs and expectations of our generation and provides value-added benefits, products and services to our members. Through our network of chapters across Canada, CARP is dedicated to building a sense of community and shared values among our members in support of CARP’s mission.
For further information, please contact:
Pam Maher 416.363.2277 x. 235
Communications coordinator
Kim Hokan 416.363.2277 x. 247
Government Relations Officer
for
Susan Eng
Vice President Advocacy
CARP, A New Vision of Aging for Canada
or visit our website: www.carp.ca
