Chain drug stores are spending million of dollars running attack ads all over the province in a desperate attempt to ensure that more money stays in their pockets, rather than yours!
Several weeks ago this group of drug stores launched an extreme (and expensive) one-sided attack against local MPP Sandra Pupatello. Now she wants you to know the facts.
"I can’t just let misleading information get out there without presenting the facts. Even though I don’t have deep pockets like the pharmacies the facts are so compelling that people will only need to hear them once," said Sandra Pupatello, MPP for Windsor West.
The facts:
- The Ontario government is the second largest buyer of drugs in the world, yet we pay the highest prices
- Drug stores make a lot of money from taxpayers, that’s why there are more drug stores in Ontario than there are Tim Horton’s across Canada (3300 vs. 3100)
- Generic drug companies pay what some call “kick-backs” for drug stores to stock their products
- The Ontario government said it would no longer allow this
This is what we’re going to do to help you:
- We want to pay pharmacists better for the services they deliver to help keep people well, not overpay for generic drugs, especially when we should get the best price as the largest buyer
- Consumers will now pay a lot less for their generic drugs, so will insurance companies and those with drug coverage will pay lower premiums too
“Our government has always fought for the best health care system for Ontarians and I have always fought for Windsor’s fair share. Since 2003 health care standards have increased in Ontario. Our results include – an overall increase in funding for our hospitals in Windsor, a decrease in wait times for our community, the addition of long term care beds, the expansion of Windsor Regional’s neonatal ICU, new angioplasty facilities, a new mental health facility, a new medical school at the University of Windsor, a life sciences centre at St. Clair College – again, the facts speak for themselves!” said Sandra Pupatello.
Beginning May 19th Pupatello will be releasing her own radio and newspaper ads to get the facts out to her constituents. Check out: www.ontario.ca/fairdrugprices
Media Contact:
Office of Sandra Pupatello, MPP Windsor West
519-977-7312