Health and Community Services
March 31, 2011

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services:

Participants in Provincial Prescription Drug Program Significantly Increased

I rise in this Honourable House today to acknowledge the recent increase in the number of participants in the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program (NLPDP), particularly the Access and Assurance Plans.

The Prescription Drug Program provides financial assistance for the purchase of prescription medications for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador and consists of five main plans: the Foundation Plan, 65Plus Plan, Access Plan, Assurance Plan and the Select Needs Plan.

Utilization of the Access and Assurance Plans was lower than anticipated. The Access Plan gives individuals and families with low incomes access to eligible prescription medications based on net income and family status. The Assurance Plan is offered to individuals and families with high prescription drug costs, whether from one extremely expensive drug or the combined cost of different drugs.

In order to increase uptake of these plans by eligible residents, a province-wide marketing campaign was launched in November 2010 and ran until February of this year. The campaign consisted of a television commercial; print and online ads; and, promotional materials, including a brochure mailed to every household, posters and referral cards.

I am very pleased to say the campaign was a huge success as we are seeing a significant increase in participation of both plans. In comparison to the same time period last year, the number of applications by eligible residents under the Access Plan increased by 40 per cent between November 2010 and February 2011. In addition, the Assurance Plan has seen an increase of 28 per cent during the same time frame.

Affording necessary prescription drugs can cause a significant amount of stress and financial burden on individuals and families who struggle to pay for medications. Last year, our government invested approximately $142 million in the Prescription Drug Program. This included approximately $16.2 million for the Assurance Plan, as well as almost $8.9 million for the Access Plan to ensure individuals in need of assistance continue to be eligible under this plan.

I would also like to note, that the expansion of the Prescription Drug Program to support individuals and families with low incomes is one of the most significant initiatives supported through our provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy.

We will continue to make substantial investments in the provincial Prescription Drug Program and I strongly encourage all eligible residents to apply for financial assistance under the program.

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2011 03 31                                                1:50 p.m.