Why are Pharmacists Concerned?
The health of Albertans is at risk. When the cuts from the Government of Alberta take place it will ultimately result in cuts at the community pharmacy level—in staff and in services. Some pharmacists may be forced to close their doors.
The government wants to cut the cost of generic drugs. That is a good thing for the Government, for insurance providers, for employers paying for drug coverage and for patients who pay for medications. Unfortunately, due to a complex funding model that exists in community pharmacy, those cuts ultimately result in lost dollars for the pharmacy – substantial lost dollars. That means that the pharmacy needs to cut their expenditures to make up for the loss in revenues to remain in operation. This will mean a cut in staffing levels, cuts in services and the possibility of some pharmacies having to close their doors.
The cuts will be ultimately paid for by rural Albertans as they will find fewer pharmacists at work in their community and they will find it harder to speak to their pharmacist, since the pharmacist will be forced to offer fewer services to make ends meet. They may even find they have to leave their community to find another pharmacist as this model threatens the economic viability of rural pharmacies.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
For the past 18 months, pharmacists have been working with the Government of Alberta to determine a way to lower drug costs to all Albertans and find better ways of compensating pharmacists for the care that they provide their patients. Progress has been made, but the work is not complete. The Government has focused on drug cost savings instead of ensuring access to health care services for Albertans.
Today pharmacists are getting told to stop providing care for their patients.
Who are they going to tell to stop caring tomorrow?
The government wants to cut the cost of generic drugs. That is a good thing for the Government, for insurance providers, for employers paying for drug coverage and for patients who pay for medications. Unfortunately, due to a complex funding model that exists in community pharmacy, those cuts ultimately result in lost dollars for the pharmacy – substantial lost dollars. That means that the pharmacy needs to cut their expenditures to make up for the loss in revenues to remain in operation. This will mean a cut in staffing levels, cuts in services and the possibility of some pharmacies having to close their doors.
The cuts will be ultimately paid for by rural Albertans as they will find fewer pharmacists at work in their community and they will find it harder to speak to their pharmacist, since the pharmacist will be forced to offer fewer services to make ends meet. They may even find they have to leave their community to find another pharmacist as this model threatens the economic viability of rural pharmacies.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
For the past 18 months, pharmacists have been working with the Government of Alberta to determine a way to lower drug costs to all Albertans and find better ways of compensating pharmacists for the care that they provide their patients. Progress has been made, but the work is not complete. The Government has focused on drug cost savings instead of ensuring access to health care services for Albertans.
Today pharmacists are getting told to stop providing care for their patients.
Who are they going to tell to stop caring tomorrow?
Ways to Support
The Minister of Health and Wellness – the Hon. Fred Horne - (780) 427-3665 or The Executive Director – Pharmaceutical Funding and Guidance – Steve Long - (780) 427-8019 (If this call is long distance, dial 310-0000, then the area code and phone number).
E-MAIL the Minister of Health and Wellness – the Hon. Fred Horne – health.minister@gov.ab.ca or The Executive Director – Pharmaceutical Funding and Guidance – Steve Long - steve.long@gov.ab.ca
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