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OPSEU supports Ontario action to stem drug costs

'The savings will allow the province to begin reinvesting in front-line health services for all Ontarians.' - Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE)Toronto (14 April 2010) -The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) is pleased to see the government take action to curb the fastest growing cost centre for health care – drugs.

Canadians now spend more on drugs than they do physicians, and drugs are rapidly catching up to hospitals as the number one health care expense.

"For too long now the province has been fixated on cutting hospital expenditures," says OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "It's about time Ontario turns its attention to areas within the health system where public money is being inefficiently turned into private profits."

The McGuinty government introduced a proposed regulation to cap generic drug costs at 25% of their brand name counterparts and reduce the cap on so-called professional allowances paid to the retail pharmacies by the big drug companies.

"The savings will allow the province to begin reinvesting in front-line health services for all Ontarians," says Thomas.

OPSEU represents 130,000 members, including more than 35,000 professional and support staff in Ontario's health system.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE