DAY 7 @ HAMILTON, ONTARIO

Instead of making the routine stop at the local MPP's office (as we had for most of the other days on the tour), today our first stop was Prisms Pharmasave, on James Street in Hamilton. Owner Damini Sandhu welcomed us in with open arms. She had organized a large event and had invited other independent pharmacy owners to address the group. She had invited some seniors who frequent her pharmacy to partake as well, and it was very generous of her to provide refreshments as well (including STOP CUTS cakes!--->see pictures for details!)

As we waited for the media to arrive, we were first addressed by the owner of Gibson's Pharmacy (an independent pharmacy in Hamilton). He told us that in order to make more of an impact, we should write personal letters to our MPPs at least once a week (he writes a handwritten letter to his MPP regarding this issue every single day!!!) He said that if an MPP gets standardized emails or text messages or even signatures on a petition, those are easy to ignore. However, they can't ignore a mailbox stuffed full of handwritten letters.

Next, we met with Mike Gayowski, owner of Paramount Pharmasave on the mountain in Hamilton. He expressed his frustration with the Ontario government, saying that McGuinty's priorities "are all screwed up." Damini then introduced us to an patient of hers, who comes to her store from Ancaster. Prescription bag in hand, he told us that he is a diabetic and doesn't know where he'd be without Damini and her staff. Damini herself is a specialist in diabetic pharmacy, and has organized seminars for him and other patients with endocrinologists and other specialists, at no charge for them. She counsels the patients on their medications and personally works with them, providing advice and support on their diets and lifestyle changes that occur due to diabetes. He said, "I just don't know where else I would go to get this kind of service." He said that he uses the blood pressure monitoring machine at the pharmacy quite frequently, and that the pharmacy rents it for $400/month (provided free of charge to patients). However, if that was to disappear along with the professional allowances, he'd have to go to his family doctor to get his blood pressure checked. In turn, the doctor would bill OHIP about $15 for this routine check. He said that McGuinty's government needs to do the math. He took the time to thank Damini personally and expressed concern that the job market may be tough for us students in the future.

Damini then introduced Faisal Khawaja. I felt like I was meeting a celebrity!! I had read his blog in the past (see it in the "Blogs I'm following" section) and had of course seen his frequent posts on the Ontario Community Pharmacies Facebook page. Faisal owns a pharmacy in Milton, Ontario but lives in Hamilton. He was incredibly eloquent and encouraging regarding our tour of the province and addressed a number of great questions from members of our student group. He mentioned that pharmacists' tagline should be "Pharmacists save lives." He offered us a personal anecdote from last week--a patient was prescribed three times the narcotic dosage she was on previously. He identified it, documented it and faxed it to the doctor. The bottom line, though, is that patients’ lives are saved all the time by the action and/or intervention of pharmacists. He explained that pharmacists are looking for an extension in the consultation period because the government is only giving the media one side of the story. The media then publishes half the information; gives half the amount of information the public needs to make a decision. He asserted that pharmacists deliver more than a billion dollars worth of healthcare services every year, services which are indirectly funded by professional allowances. Pharmacists support the elimination of professional allowances, the lowering of drugs costs (brand AND generic), he said, provided that they are replaced adequately and substantially with direct funding for what we do. To say that they are going to give us $100 million for future, extra expanded services, and expect that that money is somehow supposed to offset a billion dollars worth of losses in our profession is extremely cynical of the government, he said.

Damini then introduced Kathleen Leach. That name will sound familiar to those of you who are frequent visitors to the Coalition’s Facebook page! Kathleen, like Faisal, is another well-spoken and respected advocate for our profession. She owns a Guardian pharmacy in Hamilton (near Damini’s store). She spoke to the government’s assertion that 70% of professional allowances are being misused—“they are saying that the money is being used for salaries?! I would challenge anyone to tell me how I am supposed to deliver direct patient care without someone to actually do it—it has to go to salaries!” she said.

Here’s where it gets interesting, and ties into my final thought from yesterday’s blog post: Faisal and Kathleen then explained what is called a “listing agreement.” These are private, confidential, non-transparent deals that the government makes with Big Pharma (Kickbacks, anyone?) worth undisclosed amounts to be able to list their drugs on the formulary. The government then saves, Faisal says, so they should not be able to declare that this new legislation is transparent and for the benefit of taxpayers. Check out this article, written by Pharmacist Mike Sullivan (President of Cubic Health Inc.) for more information about listing agreements: http://www.benefitscanada.com/benefit/health/article.jsp?content=20091215_174019_9772 .

Kathleen then made an interesting point: people used to get their Fosamax (alendronate sodium) through ODB and purchase Vitamin D, and take them together. Merck, knowing that Fosamax was going to go off patent very soon, marketed Fosavance (alendronate-cholecalciferol), which is the same as Fosamax, only including the Vitamin D. Over the counter Vitamin D costs pennies to take per day. Merck then paid the government a million dollars over three years to have Fosavance listed in the formulary. How many others of those are there out there?

After this engaging session, we headed outside with our signs and protested outside the Pharmasave like old pros. We have the cheers down to an art form now. We even made up a new cheer “It’s time to negotiate! Don’t just legislate!” Rose Liao was interviewed by local Hamilton CHCH news. We then marched down to Main Street, where we protested in a public square. There were many people around and this gave us the opportunity to answer questions and educate people about the issues. One man, sympathetic to our cause, told me “You students pay enough for your education. You shouldn’t be begging the government for anything, especially when you haven’t even started your careers! There is something wrong with the system.” He’s going to call his local MPP.

After canvassing the Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale riding of Ted McMeekin, we headed back to downtown Toronto. I should get to bed now, as tomorrow we are off to an early start. We are heading to London North Centre, the riding of none other than Deb Matthews!! They say that MPPs must be in their constituency offices on Fridays, so it should be very interesting!

I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to Damini Sandhu and her staff on behalf of the student tour members for their generosity and hospitality today! This was the 7th day of the tour and more than a few were feeling tired, experiencing strained voices and feeling a bit discouraged by negative comments during the last few days of canvassing. The support from the independent pharmacy owners was just what we needed to reflect, charge our batteries and start fresh with a renewed sense of purpose. Thank you for inspiring us today.

Click the link below to see pictures from Hamilton:

STOP CUTS @ HAMILTON