Community Pharmacies Look Forward to Working with Government of PEI to Ensure Continuity of Care

Industry and Government collaboration the best path to ensure successful savings and high quality patient care

TORONTO, March 28, 2013 /CNW/ - In response to the Government of Prince Edward Island's (PEI) budget announcement, Canada's community pharmacies expressed their eagerness to work collaboratively as industry, with pharmacists, and government to balance the need for health care savings with business stability and continuity of patient care offered by community pharmacies.

"We are encouraged by PEI's approach to partnering with community pharmacy and pharmacists to identify the best path forward. This budget pursues costs savings through a pricing strategy collaboratively designed and agreed to through the Council of the Federation. We are confident that Premier Ghiz and his government, like that of Premier Wall, acknowledge the important role that pharmacy and pharmacist play in the provision of care. Their commitment to working with our industry through the Council of the Federation's Health Care Innovation Working Group also speaks to the complicated funding environment in which we operate and the need for funding stability. We look forward to being a full partner in designing how best to enhance patient care and identify responsible patient focused budget savings."

As part of the government's 2013 budget, Finance Minister Wesley Sheridan announced that the government will proceed with achieving cost savings through industry and government identified reduction of the reimbursed price of 6 generic drugs at 18% in the province.

"Community pharmacy and pharmacists will work with government to identify how best we can collaboratively mitigate potential impacts of this reduction and ensure the continuity of care and service our patients and customers expect" continued Carpenter.

Canada's community pharmacies have been working with various provincial governments, and officials through the Council of the Federation's Health Care Innovation Working Group, co-chaired by Premier Brad Wall of Saskatchewan and Premier Robert Ghiz of PEI. Community pharmacy continues to put forward ideas that drive savings in the hundreds of millions in the next 3 years and billions of dollars in savings over the long term.

Initiatives include helping pharmacist practice to their full scope and provide much needed patient care like helping Canadians manage chronic illness and get prescriptions for acute conditions;  making better use of affordable generic medications; and leveraging the sophistication and security of Canadians pharmaceutical distribution model.

Together, Canada's community pharmacies offer over 9,000 points of care making them the most convenient, accessible, and low cost patient care environment in Canada.

"The number one priority for Canada's community pharmacies continues to be enhancing the patient experience and protecting the accessibility and unmatched availability of pharmacy services in the urban, rural, and remote communities we serve. As health care leaders, we recognize governments' desire for transformation in the delivery of patient care. We look forward to working with the Government of PEI, and the Council of the Federation, to ensure that this transformation happens in a thoughtful, measured, and strategic way; one that protects patient choice and the patient experience" concluded Carpenter.

SOURCE: Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores

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Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS)
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