Dear Pharmacy Customer:

Last July, The Ministry of Health launched a review of the provincial drug program. The Ministry was to hold a series of meetings between officials and various stakeholder groups based on sector-focused themes including pharmacy, brand and generic manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers, employers and private insurers.

Ontario’s community pharmacists actively participated in discussions with the Ministry until the early fall of 2009. As pharmacists delivering front-line health care services to Ontarians, we believe that any workable solution must   make sense for all stakeholders and be guided by the following principles:

  • Solutions need to be focused on health services to Ontarians, first and foremost
  • The government’s cost pressures need to be achieved
  • A viable pharmacy sector in Ontario must be sustained
  • Any agreed new framework would need to include a                                    workable transition period.

Unfortunately the Ontario Government has left Ontario Pharmacists in limbo. In August 2009 Pharmacy presented a proposal on how to modernize the pharmacy funding and services model that would meet the needs of patients, community pharmacies and the government-including lowering drug costs. Five months later the government has not responded to the pharmacy proposal, nor has it presented its own plan to pharmacy. It has however cancelled the last 5 scheduled meetings between the ministry and pharmacy representatives.

The government claims this is an open door policy. It's not. It's not negotiating or collaborating and it's not the way to find real health care solutions for Ontarians.

If you are concerned about your pharmacy services please visit the pharmacy to fill out a postcard to send to Premier McGuinty or use the following template to write your own letter.

For more information visit

ontario.communitypharmacies.ca

or talk to any pharmacy staff member.

 

 

Dear Premier McGuinty:

I am an Ontario community pharmacy customer and

patient. I depend on the accessible advice and services I

get from my pharmacy. I want to ensure that my

pharmacist is there when I need them. I want to know

that I can talk to my pharmacist after work, when I can’t

get to my doctor’s office, or when my doctor’s office is

closed. I want to know that my pharmacy will continue to

be able to provide valuable health care services in my

community.So please do not make cuts to the neighbourhood

health care my community pharmacy provides.Name: ____________________________

Signature: ____________________________

Town/City: ____________________________

To:

Premier Dalton McGuinty

Room 281,

Main Legislative Building

Queen's Park

Toronto, Ontario

M7A 1A1

    Rexall, PCCA Member, Pharm Assist