Has Express Scripts (ESI) crossed the Line? Conflict with Pharmacies?

Last week - Express Scripts Canada announced it had received a licence to operate a Pharmacy in Ontario. 

ESI for short - is a pharmacy benefits manager and negotiates agreements and provides management services to insurance companies. In other words a middle man.

The Council of Independent Community Pharmacy Owners (CICPO) was in fact in negotiations with the company last year to reach a deal for Desjardins card holders in Newfoundland and Labrador (provincial government employees insurance card).

So the fellow who was sitting at the table across from the independent pharmacies was in fact involved with establishing a pharmacy for the the company he represented. This fellow Mark Murphy was actually gathering further information about pharmacies, costs, and services - reportedly in an effort to reach an agreement with independent pharmacies in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Express Scripts Canada is located in Missisauga Ontario with its Parent company Express Scripts Inc. is located in Missouri, USA. 

As a pharmacy benefit manager - they negotiate contracts for Insurers like Desjardins and in the case of these negotiations - in direct contact with the employer - the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

As Express Scripts Canada have now announced they will be looking at setting up pharmacies in other provinces - we might expect that rural areas of the province may now be served by mail order - thereby eliminating the local pharmacy, business, personal service, and professional face to face contact with an essential member of your health-care team.

Is this what the Dunderdale government wanted? Is this why they passed a regulation contrary to the agreement they were under with pharmacies? Is this why they wanted extra time? Will they be seeking to eliminate direct services in rural areas and have all the money leave those communities and even our province?

There is no doubt that a conflict exists here and it is time for the Premier to speak on this matter.