Provincial Government Continues to be Highly Supportive of Pharmacy Sector

The Provincial Government is setting the record straight with respect to the balanced approach it has taken to ensure lower cost generic drugs for residents, continued access to pharmacy services, and an expanded role for pharmacists in the health care system.

“The ill-informed comments by the Council of Independent Community Pharmacy Owners (CICPO) and the Official Opposition fail to acknowledge the balanced approach that this administration is taking to support the pharmacy sector and provide for lower cost generic drugs,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services. “It is an approach that is benefiting people in all regions. Through our new four-year agreement we will re-invest approximately $37 million which supports all pharmacies. This agreement includes a $1 million annual subsidy directed entirely at rural and remote-community-based pharmacies operating in underserviced areas to help ensure their ongoing viability. This is in addition to the $29 million to make changes to the 65+ plan so that no senior pays more than $6 per prescription.”

The agreement also includes several areas of cognitive or enhanced pharmacy services. As announced in October 2012, expanded payments for enhanced pharmacy services include:

• Medication Review: a review of a patient’s medication profile, focused on individuals with diabetes, and discussions with the patient with the goal of improving compliance, minimizing side effects and improving health outcomes;
• Medication Management: billing for services such as providing an interim supply of medication or extending a prescription for a client; and,
• Refusal to Fill: increases to the fee for refusing to fill a prescription in instances where it is suspected a client is abusing/misusing a narcotic.

“We have worked very closely with the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board to make regulatory and legislative changes that expand the scope of practice of pharmacists, with dialogue ongoing regarding further expansion,” said Minister Sullivan. “We reviewed the draft report from CICPO in the same manner we review input from all stakeholders. We are pleased to see that its main conclusions align precisely with the direction we have been moving in, in partnership with the broader pharmacy community.”

- 30 –

Media contact:
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca 

2013 04 10             5:25 p.m.