April 13, 2010
Durham MPP Supports Community Pharmacies
QUEEN’S PARK – Durham MPP John O’Toole today called on the McGuinty government to work together with pharmacists and patients to ensure there will be no reduction in services at community pharmacies.
He was responding to reports that the provincial government plans to upload professional fees from generic drug companies. Concerns have been raised province-wide that ending these professional fees could restrict services.
Speaking in the Ontario Legislature today, Mr. O’Toole read from postcards addressed to Premier McGuinty, noting that patients depend on accessible health advice and services they get from their pharmacy.
“Community pharmacies provide valuable frontline healthcare services at convenient hours,” Mr. O’Toole said. “This government must ensure its policies do not jeopardize services or result in reduced jobs and the closure of pharmacies”
Mr. O’Toole said Ontario must get the maximum benefit from all healthcare resources. “However, in this situation, the McGuinty government is downloading hundreds of millions in healthcare costs to Ontario’s pharmacists,” said Mr. O’Toole. “The truth is that Ontarians are paying more and more for less and less in health care.”
The Durham MPP called on the McGuinty government to work with all stakeholders to ensure pharmacy reforms do not reduce frontline healthcare services, and are fair to all.
QUOTE:
- “Community pharmacies provide valuable frontline healthcare services to their customers at convenient hours. This government must ensure its policies do not jeopardize these services or result in lost jobs and the closure of smaller pharmacies.”
- John R. O’Toole, MPP- Durham
QUICK FACTS:
- Approximately 2.8 million people receive coverage from Ontario’s publicly funded drug system.
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For further information please contact:
John O’Toole, MPP – Durham (905) 697-1501 / 1-800-661-2433
