Story below as appears in the Grand Falls-Windsor Advertiser by journalist Renell LeGrow.
Group concerned over contracts
The Council of Independent Community Pharmacy Owners is crying foul over contracts being signed between personal care homes and big chain pharmacies for exclusive rights to pharmaceutical needs for residents.
Personal care homes signing deals with big chain pharmacies
It's a fight the Council of Independent Community Pharmacy Owners is ready to fight - but where do they take it?
CICPO Executive Director Sue Kelland-Dyer said they're hearing the stories province-wide.
"Here's what appears to be going on," she said. "Number one, the big chain stores that are involved in this thing are both Shoppers Drug Mart and Lawton's. There is no evidence of others involved, those would be the two, and the predominant player in that would be Lawton's Drugs. What we're hearing essentially is that they go into the homes, and they cut a cheque, so much per bed, and what they receive in return is exclusivity of the people or residents of the home."
When contacted by the Advertiser, the homes in Grand Falls-Windsor declined comment, however Ms. Kelland-Dyer said it is happening.
"Quite often too they come in from outside the community, which is also a problem," she said. "So in Grand Falls-Windsor's case, I think the couple of cases that are there, one is a Lawton's and one is a Shopper's, but neither of them is operating in the community. They're operating their services to the home from outside the community. One from Gander, and the other from Bishop's Falls."
Ms. Kelland-Dyer said the complaints are pouring into CICPO of upset seniors and families, wanting to keep their long-time family pharmacist.
"What they're being told is that if you do not transfer over and go to another pharmacist and another pharmacy, basically we will not give you your medication," she said. "These people have been with their pharmacy for years. We've had reports of seniors crying, really upset, didn't know what to do, and the most difficult part is because they've been waiting to get into a home, or probably just getting in, they're not comfortable with rocking the boat."
Ms. Kelland-Dyer called the situation a real mess.
"To the people who have called our pharmacies, and its not just Grand Falls-Windsor... what do we say for these seniors?" she said. "Somehow this is continuing to fall on deaf ears and at some point it's going to break."
Ms. Kelland-Dyer cited a letter she was forwarded from a resident of Golden Years Estate in Grand Falls-Windsor.
"Dear Resident of the Golden Years Estate, It is the commitment of the Golden Years Estate to provide it's residents with the ultimate care and service, which is why beginning on Monday, Feb 1, we will be switching all pharmaceutical requirements and needs to Lawton's Drugs. The Golden Years Estate and Lawton's Drugs ensure that there will be no disruption in medications or prescription service and delivery, and that residents will enjoy enhanced customer service and satisfaction. We appreciate you're understanding and co-operation regarding this decision, and we look forward to a prosperous new year filled with good health and happiness."
That's a senior's rights issue, according to Ms. Kelland-Dyer.
"You and I can pick whoever our pharmacist is, whoever our doctor is, we can change if we want or stay there if we want, but it's our choice," she said. "This has come down to seniors not having a choice. And I tell you, there's a lot of upset. We've been trying to get to the bottom of this, how do we put this complaint together, who do we lodge the complaint to, but clearly there has to be some action taken because you have people who, I know, are in tears."
Ms. Kelland-Dyer feels the government should step in.
"I know our pharmacies in Grand Falls-Windsor were supplying the homes, but there was no force," she said. "If a resident wanted to go to Roy Green, or one wanted to go to Wayne Morris, or one wanted to go to Ken Dicks, they just did. There was no blocking them."
The biggest concern for CICPO is the relationship between patient and pharmacist. Ms. Kelland-Dyer said with any luck, the pharmacist becomes a life-long health care provider, much like a family physician.
"Particularly as it involves chronic illness like heart conditions, high and low blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and that sort of thing," she said. "There's an ongoing need for medications, compliance with those medications and ongoing discussions back and forth between the doctor and the pharmacist as to what perhaps would be the best approach from a medication perspective."
Ms. Kelland-Dyer said families need to be able to speak on behalf of their loved ones.
"We had one instance where a person was getting ready to leave their home and go into the personal care home," she explained. "Before they went into the home they said they were going to keep their same pharmacist. They were told it wouldn't be a problem. And then, the day they went to check into the home, they told her she had to sign the document or she wasn't going to be admitted. What do you do? We have other instances here in St. John's, where local pharmacists weren't able to treat their own parents or grandparents. It's something that's really weird, it came out of nowhere... it's not a happy picture."
Ms. Kelland-Dyer said CICPO is ready to fight this.
"Something has to give," she said. "You can't treat seniors any different than me or you."
The Advertiser placed calls to Shoppers Drug Mart in Bishop's Falls but they were not returned, prior to deadline.
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