MEDICINE HAT, AB — Several pharmacies across Canada are sounding the alarm over prescription drug shortages.
And one local pharmacist says the problem could get worse.
“The drug shortages are bad now, but now with the new pricing structure, they’re going to get worse,” says Greg Bueckert, a practising pharmacist for the past 43 years.
In January, the Pan Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance and the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association announced a deal to lower the prices of more than 70 generic drugs, which takes effect on April 1. One of the new regulations for prices is that a drug containing a certain amount of molecules will now be priced at 10 per cent of the brand name equivalent.
On Wednesday, Bueckert was on a conference call with the alliance, and the discussion of drug shortages was brought up. Bueckert says the new price strategy could impact result in generic drug companies leaving the Canadian market due to making less than they used to. He says if this happens, the drug shortages would rise.
“It’s getting progressively worse,” he said. “Now with this new Canadian pricing structure, I expect it to be reaching epidemic proportions.
“I honestly say 90 per cent of the people will be affected somehow, within the next 24 months or 12 months, because there will be shortages.”
Rob Hozack, owner and pharmacist at Redcliff Pharmasave, has also been battling drug shortages.
“It creeps up, and it just became the new normal,” he said.
Hozack estimates 10 per cent of the pharmacy’s order doesn’t arrive every night, and says as long-term shortages grow, the pharmacy begins working away from the drugs that are missing.
Both Hozack and Bueckert say the shortages aren’t specific to one condition. On Wednesday, Bueckert has noticed shortages in anti-depressants and thyroid medication, while Hozack saw a shortage of blood pressure medication.
Shortages can be caused by manufacturing issues or shipping problems, for example.
For both pharmacists, their concern over drug shortages rests with their patients. Bueckert and Hozack say they work with patients to find possible substitutions for their medication, but note that could lead to other problems.
“If there’s no substitution, whatever condition it is that can’t be treated is going to get progressively worse, and it’s going to be a problem in the near future,” said Bueckert.
“People aren’t getting optimal treatment in many cases,” said Hozack. “We’re moving on to ‘what’s the next option?’ versus ‘what’s the best option?’
“We don’t think ‘what do we have? What can we get?’” It’s not necessarily the best choice.”
