Ontario’s Community Health Centres applaud Minister Matthews for expanding access to affordable drugs

(TORONTO- April 28, 2010) —The Association representing Ontario’s 74 Community Health Centres has sent a letter to Health Minister Deb Matthews voicing strong support for her plans to curb the rapid rise in drug costs and expand access for low-income Ontarians through the elimination of pharmacists’ product-placement bonuses and a 50% reduction in the costs of generic drugs.“We congratulate Minister Matthews for her leadership,” said AOHC Executive Director Adrianna Tetley. “Lowering the costs of prescription drugs is a much-needed step in creating a health-care system that is truly sustainable. These reforms advance health equity, particularly for those Ontarians who lack a drug plan and have to pay out of their own pockets for the drugs they need. This is the direction Minister Matthews needs to continue leading our health system.”

Tetley applauded Minister Matthews’ measures to soften the blow to pharmacists, with focussed funding for those in rural and remote areas of the province. While acknowledging that the transition will result in adjustments for pharmacies, Tetley urged the Minister to continue on the path to address unnecessarily high and rapidly-rising costs for drugs.

Tetley said these most recent drug reforms should be seen as a “first step towards returning greater ownership of our health-care system into the hands of Ontarians.” She urged Minister Matthews to consider additional initiatives such as creating incentives that will encourage pharmacists to move out of retail stores and into primary health-care interdisciplinary teams, enhancing opportunities for well-informed pharmaceutical therapies to be applied and monitored. Several of Ontario’s Community Health Centres already employ pharmacists on site and more would welcome the same opportunity.

In addition to representing Ontario’s Community Health Centres, whose mandate is to serve those Ontarians experiencing barriers to accessing primary health care, the AOHC also represents 18 of the province’s Community-governed Family Health Teams and nine Aboriginal Health Access Centres. On Friday, the Association’s membership will mark Community Health Day with a focus on health equity.

CONTACT: Mary MacNutt: 647-992-2642 www.aohc.org and www.ontariochc.ca