It was a protest Barrhead style. One or two people called it a “business interruption.”
Smiles were exchanged, questions answered, information sheets handed out, posters displayed and petitions signed. There were even complementary red apples and coffee on offer.
The weather may have been chilly, but the warmest parts of Main Street last Thursday seemed to belong to patches of white … not snow, rather pharmacists wearing lab coats as they stood outside their stores to protest government budget cuts.
The actions of staff at Rita’s Apothecary, Fyfe’s and Rexall demonstrated solidarity with pharmacists rallying in various Alberta communities, including Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer. Many stores reportedly shut their doors for two hours in a display of support.
Meanwhile, a table was set up inside Barrhead &District Co-op. It was manned by pharmacist Katie Kjelland, who was willing to sit one-on-one with patients to discuss the effects of the budget.
At the IGA, manager Gerald White continued efforts to explain the pharmacists’ case to customers; a key part of it was understanding the complex funding model of the profession and why decreasing generic drug prices poses major challenges.
“There is an education process,” he said.
Rita’s Apothecary was closed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. while employees gathered outside at an “information picket”, behind which posters proclaimed messages like “pharmacists care no matter where.”
Passers-by, including customers, were invited to join Rita Lyster and her team for coffee and conversation about the government’s drug decision and what it means for pharmacy. As an extra incentive to chat there was a tray of red apples.
“It has gone really well today,” said Lyster. “I would say 95 per cent of the people who approached us have been supportive.
“About five percent are suspicious. One person thought we were a union.”
Lyster said many people had signed anti-budget petitions, which would be presented to the legislature shortly.
Anne Jennings, from Sangudo, was one of those who added her name to the petition.
“I figure the government should not be cutting back on essential services, especially ones which affect the elderly,” she said.
A few stores down the street, Rexall’s pharmacy manager Crystal Gaugler and pharmacist Carrie McElroy stood on the sidewalk in their white lab coats, holding information sheets.
“We are here to support Albertans and show solidarity with other pharmacies,” they declared.
Gaugler and McElroy – who say their actions are classified as a “business interruption” – said the public had shown sympathy for pharmacists’ cause.
On the other side of Main Street, Fyfe’s Friendly Pharmacy was closed for an hour, between 11 a.m. and noon. At one point 13 members of staff gathered outside by a table.
On the table was a petition, which read “We, the undersigned residents of Alberta, petition the Legislative Assembly to urge the Government of Alberta to implement policy that will ensure the access to and quality of the services currently provided by community pharmacies and pharmacists in Alberta is preserved.”
Front store manager Teresa Kristel said about 50 people had signed the petition.
Alberta pharmacists say the decision to cut generic drug prices – to 18 per cent of brand-name rates from 35 per cent – will cut a major income source.
Currently, pharmacists have volume deals when they buy drugs from suppliers. Under them, the companies will send them back rebates worth 40 to 50 per cent of their purchase. Price reductions mean suppliers won’t be able to afford the same volume deals, raising fears of pharmacies closing, laying off staff or cutting hours.
It is also argued that generic drug manufacturers will reduce the supply of generic medications in Alberta.
Health Minister Fred Horne says lower prices will save the province $90 million.
Last week, Horne highlighted six measures, worth $40 million in 2013-14, to help pharmacies transition to generic drug prices.
• Government will provide $500,000 to the Alberta Pharmacists Association to train pharmacists in delivering services like renewing prescriptions and providing drug management plans. Government compensates pharmacists for nine such services.
• The compensation criteria for delivering three of these nine services will be expanded to enable more pharmacists to provide these services.
• A pharmacy services plan and a detailed service guide will be developed to help ensure long-term stabilization of pharmacies through compensation for pharmacy services.
• Government will continue to pay the current price for generic drugs for 30 days after May 1, which is the day the lower prices were to take effect. This will help pharmacies dispense their inventory at the price they paid and be a benefit worth $5 million.
• As of April 15, 2013 government will reinstate for one year a $1 per prescription allowance to allow pharmacies to transition their business model. This is a benefit to pharmacies worth $24 million. About $12 million will come from government and the rest from employer and private insurance programs; and
• The $10.6 million Remote Pharmacy Access Grant has been repurposed to ensure all 117 pharmacies that are defined as ‘remote’ receive stabilization funding and to provide additional funding for small-volume stores for professional staff.
