Author Archives: Roby

It’s good to see Dalton McGuinty is ruining healthcare yet again in Ontario. I’m paying an extra $300 a year for this? Now Dalton McGuinty is trying to blame his health care debacle on your local pharmacist. It’s their fault that health care can’t maintain a budget. It’s the pharmacies fault that you are waiting in line for a hip replacement today. What?

In fact, the only place where you dont have to wait in line nowadays is in your pharmacy. Convenient, easy access, and hours that suit your needs, the community pharmacy has been the one bright spot in our health care scenario. But Dalton is about to change that.

McGuinty and his lap dog, Deb Matthews, a London area MPP to boot, have decided to unilaterally cut the price they want to pay for drugs, and completely change the funding model on how pharmacists deliver their services to you. What does that mean to you?

Well, the government will tell you that they are going to save you money on drugs. But wait…. anyone on the Ontario Provincial Drug Plan already only pays a slight $2 co payment, so they aren’t saving. Those on an employer benefit plan aren’t going to save. And those who pay out of pocket are already paying the lowest price, so they arne’t going to save. Who is saving?

Dalton’s budget saves, thats what. In oder to keep his promises to balance the books, he needs $1 billion. So he’s hoping pharmacies can just do without a billion a year. Here’s what Dalton and Deb’s $1 billion means to you:

- At least 400 pharmacies in rural areas will close. This funding is used by the pharmacists to deliver services to you. So know, you’ll have to drive and extra 10 to 45 minutes to get to your essential drugs.

- Extra services, like pharmacies in walk in clinics, etc. will be gone, since many pharmacies piggyback the cost of operating smaller pharmacies on the revenue they generate from the main pharmacies. Expect those to close.

- Hours will be drastically reduced. That script you receive from your doctor after 6? hope you dont need it til tomorrow.

- Lineups galore. With less pharmacies, more people will crowd into the ones that are left in their community, clogging service, and adding wait times to pick up your prescription. Bring a novel!

Dalton and Deb want to make sure the standard of pharmacy delivery is that of the rest of the healthcare system. Which frankly, sucks.

Good job, Dalton. Excellent job Deb. You are truly showing us what you really think of health care in this province.