May 21, 2013
Proposed legislation would give the Manitoba government new tools to fight for more competitive drug prices and a more reliable drug supply for Manitoba families, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced today.
“We want to ensure Manitoba continues to get drug prices that are competitive with other jurisdictions,” said Oswald. “The competitive drug pricing act would give Manitoba Health officials the tools they need to negotiate fair, competitive prices for drugs while also ensuring those drugs are available in Manitoba for patients when they need them.”
The proposed amendments would support the government’s ongoing work to achieve more competitive generic drug pricing, the minister said. Manitoba Health would have the authority to cancel a product listing agreement with a drug manufacturer if it isn’t able to supply the drug in Manitoba. The legislation would also allow for the removal of a generic manufacturer’s drug from the pharmacare formulary if, for example, another manufacturer is offering lower pricing or if there are matters of public interest such as potential safety or quality issues with a specific drug.
The provincial government has worked to broaden the number of generic versions of prescription drugs, which save money for Manitoba families and reduce provincial drug costs, said Oswald. According to the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association, generic drugs accounted for 65.1 per cent of prescriptions in Manitoba in 2011, the highest use of generics in Canada.
“Over the last year, we have negotiated lower generic drug prices that will save Manitoba families and the provincial government over $30 million,” said Oswald. “By negotiating lower drug prices under pharmacare, we’re able to reinvest those savings to offer better drug coverage under pharmacare and the new Home Cancer Drug Program.”
Pharmacare is a universal prescription drug program for Manitobans, with benefits based on family income. It covers 100 per cent of eligible drug costs once the income-based deductible is reached regardless of medical condition or age. More information about the Manitoba Pharmacare Program is available at www.gov.mb.ca/health/pharmacare.
NEW LEGISLATION WOULD HELP MANITOBA GOVERNMENT FIGHT FOR BETTER DRUG PRICES, DRUG SUPPLY: OSWALD
“We want to ensure Manitoba continues to get drug prices that are competitive with other jurisdictions,” said Oswald. “The competitive drug pricing act would give Manitoba Health officials the tools they need to negotiate fair, competitive prices for drugs while also ensuring those drugs are available in Manitoba for patients when they need them.”
The proposed amendments would support the government’s ongoing work to achieve more competitive generic drug pricing, the minister said. Manitoba Health would have the authority to cancel a product listing agreement with a drug manufacturer if it isn’t able to supply the drug in Manitoba. The legislation would also allow for the removal of a generic manufacturer’s drug from the pharmacare formulary if, for example, another manufacturer is offering lower pricing or if there are matters of public interest such as potential safety or quality issues with a specific drug.
The provincial government has worked to broaden the number of generic versions of prescription drugs, which save money for Manitoba families and reduce provincial drug costs, said Oswald. According to the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association, generic drugs accounted for 65.1 per cent of prescriptions in Manitoba in 2011, the highest use of generics in Canada.
“Over the last year, we have negotiated lower generic drug prices that will save Manitoba families and the provincial government over $30 million,” said Oswald. “By negotiating lower drug prices under pharmacare, we’re able to reinvest those savings to offer better drug coverage under pharmacare and the new Home Cancer Drug Program.”
Pharmacare is a universal prescription drug program for Manitobans, with benefits based on family income. It covers 100 per cent of eligible drug costs once the income-based deductible is reached regardless of medical condition or age. More information about the Manitoba Pharmacare Program is available at www.gov.mb.ca/health/pharmacare.
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