Cheap prescriptions causes conflict for local businesses
Last week, Ontario announced the end of a subsidy program that put $750 million per year into pharmacists’ coffers. This was a subsidy where funds were given to pharmacists by the generic drug manufacturers as a sales incentive.
In effort to lower costs, Ontario thought it was a good idea to end this program. Instead, this is creating hardship for locally owned businesses. This will put a strain on local pharmacies by shortening hours, longer wait times due to longer line-ups. Pharmacists will have less time working with prescription conflicts, seniors, and medical consultations. This is an important for a pharmacist. They work hard in providing outstanding service for their customers.
The government isn’t caring about what this will do for independent pharmacies that are relying on these sales. These stores will have to charge more for dispensing fees, cut workers and may lose their business. Westmount Pharmacy in Peterborough is one of the friendliest and quickest pharmacies. It would be terrible if they had to close.
Peterborough has four Shoppers Drug Mart locations. There is no reason a city with a population of 70,000 people would need four stores.
Its business’s like Westmount, who deserves a fighting chance in today’s economy. Everyone relies on pharmacists to help us on a regular basis, and yet they are getting the short end of the stick by unions, and the government.
If the government could balance their budget, fix their deficit problem, but not at the price of Ontario’s healthcare professionals, and local businesses, these companies wouldn’t have to fight for their business.
"Cheap" isn' always a good thing
