So I went to have a prescription filled today, and my pharmacist says, "I was wondering if you would be willing to sign a petition. The government is trying to instill new cut backs on the coverage of medications for the elderly, disabled, and those who are on welfare. They also are working to take away the availability of certain drugs that are highly needed and used by thousands of people. I know you're young and this doesn't directly affect you right now, but it will follow down the chain to everyone if we don't stop it now."

He didn't need to say anymore to me as I grabbed the petition and signed. This is apparently being done under the radar, or at least that's what they are trying to do, but Ontario pharmacists have gathered together to try and petition it.

If you can go to a pharmacy and learn a little more about this, and sign the petition, I believe it is a very worthy cause. We will all be old one day, and unfortunately we may need drugs to function properly. If that were the case and we could not afford it, we would suffer, and possibly die in result. This isn't fair for anyone. We are all equal; we all deserve the chance to be healthy. Money shouldn't grant certain people the right to not suffer, opposed to others who don't have the means.

They take away a lot, but our health care is just going too far. Stealing our rights to free eye exams, and many other required health procedures is already too much. I am willing to pay higher taxes if I know that people are being taken care of, and that if something is to happen to me, I do not need to find a bunch of magical money to pay for it. Please help stop this, don't stand on the sidelines and watch things unfold in front of you, when all you need to do is sign a piece of paper that could change lives all over.

Sounds like a good one. I'd undoubtedly support this, given that I'm a diabetic in need of certain drugs in order to live. Getting my ass over to a pharmacy on the other hand...

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I am nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore I am perfect.

Okay, you do need to look at the bigger picture.

The Canadian version is based on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This subsidises mnay many drugs, making them affordable for people.

What the problem is though is that it is also an unsustainable scheme, in that at the moment we have aging populations all around the world, rising cost of drugs and decreasing health of the population. All of this causes sprialling costs for a PBS style program. I can't remember the exact numbers, but Australias costs something like 3 billion dollars a year (population 20mill) and this is growing at a huge rate (seriously huge). As a result, many drugs need to drop off the scheme otherwise it just becomes too expensive and the system will collapse as a whole, leading to an American style system where they pay full price and get arse raped by drug companies. (The US is actually looking at implementing a system based on Australia's PBS to try to reel in the drug companies pricing).
What the real need is for less drugs on the scheme and more restictions on thier use - at the moment the government can say "We'll only subsidise the drug on these conditions......." This means that the drug is only being used for people who really need it and expensive drugs are only being used if everything else has failed

The Pharmacists should know this, but at the end of the day they are running a business and need to show things like this to please customers. When I get asked or get complained to about prices, I bloody well tell the truth that unless things happen, the whole system WILL collapse.

I want the system to continue, like I said its our system thats been copied all over the world and it really is an awesome scheme. But unfortunately things need to happen or it will be too expensive

I work in a Pharmacy, and we had a lecture a few weeks back at uni from the head of Australia's PBS, it was quite interesting.



Now..........how the hell did I get here?

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**Man I'm Pretty**

Last edited by Trance Nutter on Apr-13-2005 at 14:56

Seems like the drug-subsidy issue has been pretty shaky in the last little while. If NOT signing this petition would mean the prolongated stray from an American style system, I wouldn't sign it. The way you explain it, it seems that certain drugs are to be kept on this plan, regardless that others have a higher need/demand, to be purchased by those few that need it. Not sure if I misunderstood that...

a little OT but

quote:

We will all be old one day, and unfortunately we may need drugs to function properly

I'd say that drugs, NOW, are a fundamental part of me being able to function properly

"Stealing our rights" to free eye exam? Hahahaha.

And eveyone thought that the Tories were the cut and slash specialists. At least when they cut programs they also cut taxes, lowered the deficit and balanced the books. With mcguinty we get fewer services, high taxes and a huge debt.

Way to go Ontario... keep voting us into oblivion!

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quote:

Originally posted by jester Everything in this country is illegal.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery…" Winston Churchill

‎"If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law" - Winston Churchill

"Dispense my drugs old man. If I want any lip out of you I'll open my fly".

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- rabbit.joker [funny¿rabbit] | www.rabbitjoker.com |www.ddtt.org

Dark Dirty Tech Tribal. | Hands in air (trance) and feet on the floor (house).

quote:

Originally posted by The Highroller "Stealing our rights" to free eye exam? Hahahaha.

I think everyone has the right to be taken care of. Regardless of money. So in my opinion, having an eye exam is a right.

quote:

Originally posted by Theresa having an eye exam is a right.

How much of the "health premium" did you pay in 2004?

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- rabbit.joker [funny¿rabbit] | www.rabbitjoker.com |www.ddtt.org

Dark Dirty Tech Tribal. | Hands in air (trance) and feet on the floor (house).

I paid $600 or more in health tax for less. Thanks Dalton!

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quote:

Originally posted by jester Everything in this country is illegal.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery…" Winston Churchill

‎"If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law" - Winston Churchill