Yurek Questions Liberal Health Minister on Additional Cuts to Pharmacy Services
This morning, Ontario PC Health Critic Jeff Yurek (Elgin-Middlesex-London) questioned the Minister of Health & Long-Term Care over the cuts being made to pharmacy services effective October 1st.
“Minister, along with your cuts in nursing positions throughout the province and your $235 million cut to physician services, pharmacists will see a $150 million cut to their profession,” stated Yurek. “Your government should look at better utilizing the skills of pharmacists to uncover cost savings in the health care system.”
Pharmacist have long advocated for the Liberal Government to broaden their scope of practice to include expanded injection authority, expanding smoking cessation programs, and enabling pharmacists to treat minor common ailments. In other jurisdictions, more actively involving pharmacists in patient care has proven to provide significant cost savings.
“Minister, your government seems to have money available to pay out lavish bonuses for the Pan Am Games and increased CCAC CEO salaries by 27% between 2009 and 2013. Yet this government continues to cut frontline health care services to the detriment of Ontarians,” added Yurek. “Minister, why are you not focusing on implementing cost saving ideas that work in other jurisdictions?” Yurek concluded.
Video Attached: https://youtu.be/3Hk7apEmY6Y