Report - LifeSciences BC

The Task Force also considered theapproach that was adopted in Nova Scotia toaddress, perhaps more effectively than inOntario and Quebec, the need for a morerational approach to the cost of generics and thedevelopment of more transparent andaccountable arrangements with pharmaciesregarding the provision of quality cognitive, andother, services to patients. The Nova Scotiaapproach, which involved a seven monthnegotiation, provides an example of how acollaborative and effective shared-risk modelcan be developed by government and bystakeholders resulting in significant cost-savingsfor the provincial drug program. The TaskForce recommends that British Columbia adopta collaborative approach similar to the processused in Nova Scotia, but we suggest that theprocess include consideration of options thatwould increase the level of engagement byinnovative drug manufacturers in the postpatentenvironment. A more effective systemmay also necessitate the PSD playing a moredirect role in procurement/acquisition of genericdrugs, but this should not be accomplished in amanner that would negatively impact the level ofservices provided to patients by pharmacists. Ifprudently managed, a new negotiatedarrangement in BC should result in moresignificant savings than what was accomplishedin Nova Scotia and a more effectivearrangement than that which resulted from thelegislated approaches in Ontario and Quebec.It must also be mentioned that, in makingtheir submission to the Task Force, theCanadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association(CGPA) invited action to lower thereimbursement level for generic drugs and,further, to restrict “trade spend” on rebatesand allowances. The CGPA called forincreased professional/dispensing fees forpharmacists (this will be addressed in greaterdetail below) as a critical element of anysuccessful reform equation and also sought“first-to-market” incentives for generic drugmanufacturers.The Task Force believes that BritishColumbia should vigorously pursue an overallreduction in the cost of generic drug productsand, further, the development of more rationaltransparent and accountable reimbursementarrangement with pharmacies. Two other keypoints are offered in this regard:1. All parties must understand that theGovernment of British Columbia has alegitimate and pressing interest in achievingthe deployment of effective new costcontainmentinitiatives. If agreementcannot be reached within a reasonableperiod of time – and the benefit of theexperience in Ontario, Quebec and NovaScotia suggests a period of six months, orless, would be sufficient – thenGovernment would have little choice otherthan to take unilateral action to addressthese matters through legislative or othermeans; and2. Given that the CSCW Review ofPharmaCare had made exactly this kind ofTHE REPORT OF PHARMACEUTICAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH 18 APRIL, 2008