TORONTO, ONTARIO, Apr. 19, 2010 (Marketwire) -- The provincial government has announced plans to reform the prescription drug system to expand Ontarian's access to affordable drugs. The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) supports this bold move aimed at improving access to lower-cost drugs for patients, while continuing to increase annual funding to the drug system as a whole.
The proposed changes include:
-- lowering the cost of generic drugs,
-- ending so-called 'professional allowances',
-- ensuring pharmacists are fairly compensated for helping patients by
increasing dispensing fees,
-- paying for additional services provided to patients, and
-- supporting access to pharmacy services in rural communities and under-
serviced areas by dedicating funding.
Ken Coran, OSSTF/FEESO President said, "It is disappointing to hear the subsequent protests by Shoppers Drug Mart. Their attempt to intimidate their own customers is uncalled for and, quite frankly, appalling. By imposing charges for delivery, Shoppers Drug Mart harms only the most vulnerable members of the community. All this to protect what is essentially a rebate program from the pharmaceutical companies being utilized to boost corporate profits."
"OSSTF/FEESO appreciates the dedication and professionalism of Shoppers Drug Mart employees. We also strongly support the willingness of the government to take on drug companies and big pharmacies in order to provide affordable drugs and healthcare for Ontarians," concluded Coran.
OSSTF/FEESO, founded in 1919, has 60,000 members across Ontario. They include public high school teachers, occasional teachers, educational assistants, continuing education teachers and instructors, psychologists, secretaries, speech-language pathologists, social workers, plant support personnel, attendance counsellors, and many others in education.
