To the Editor,
Are high prescription drug costs a problem for you and your family? If so, it may be worth a few minutes to contact Health Minister Jane Philpott and tell her, as she seems to think it is not a priority for Canadians.
If you watched CBC’s Fifth Estate, you will know that Canadians pay the second highest drug prices in the world after the U.S. Canada is the only country with a public health system without a corresponding public drug program. Public systems are able to stick wrestle drug prices down through bulk buying and other competitive methods where their drug costs are miniscule compared to ours, enabling them to spend all that saved money on other health priorities.
Philpott’s mandate letter states she is to “improve access to necessary prescription medications. This will include joining with provincial and territorial governments to buy drugs in bulk.” So why isn’t it happening? What’s the hold up? We need to let Philpott know that this is a priority and that we would like to know what she has done so far to enable Canadians to pay fair and reasonable prices for the medications they need.
Liz FoxLantzville