Higher Drug Cost for Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador

New change in drug policy in one of the Canadian provinces is likely to cause trouble for both consumers and pharmacies. Prescription drug cost would increase for patients who rely on drug program by government. On the other hand pharmacies would earn less, according to proposed amendment in Pharmaceutical Services Act of Newfoundland.

Government is considering bringing changes in an act of drug price policy.

Former health minister of the province had assured, in a press note released by government in july of 2011, new changes would bring down the generic drug cost and no changes in drug price policy which eventually raise cost of medicines.

Patients who are on government's drug plan would have to pay the difference between the cost of brand drug and generic drug; if new the act is amended with proposed changes.

Consumers and Pharmacy Store Owners Concerned

Pharmacy and chemist shop owner are not happy with new amendment as it would significantly affect their revenue.

Policy makers argue that saving millions of dollars annually is the only intention of government. The act with changes would enable government to pay reasonable price for generic equivalent drugs.

Wade Locke, an economist at Memorial University, has been hired by independent pharmacists to study and figure out how exactly the amended act going to affect all the involved parties i.e. gov, pharmacies and patients.