QUEBEC — The association representing Canada’s generic pharmaceutical market is slamming the Quebec government’s intend to turn to tendering to get cheaper generic prescription medications.
Health Minister Gaetan Barrette stated Wednesday the federal government will proceed with tendering by This summer 1.
He stated talks using the industry fell apart after its representatives walked away without giving grounds.
Without accusing pharmaceutical companies of collusion, Barrette did say costs are frequently "much the same in one company to a different, that is very surprising."
Jim Keon, president from the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association, stated the business gave Quebec an offer earlier this year that will let the province in order to save $1.5 billion over 5 years.
"The proposal includes further cost discounts on the top-selling generic prescription medications and extra savings with the launch of recent cost-saving generic medicines," Keon stated inside a statement.
He stated the federal government has rather made the decision to proceed having a "dangerous tendering plan" that may threaten jobs along with the way to obtain cost-saving generic pharmaceutical products.
The association argues that restricting the amount of suppliers for any given product increases the chance of drug shortages and can lead to greater prices within the lengthy term as manufacturers have from the market.
It states Quebec’s generic pharmaceutical industry supports 4,100 direct jobs and helps to create an immediate economic impact of $769 million.
An order that is representative of Quebec’s pharmacists acknowledges drug pricing is excessive but states altering one drug for an additional could bother some patients.
"Take epileptics for instance,Inch Ordre plusieurs pharmaciens du Quebec president Bertrand Bolduc told The Canadian Press. "Do you want to change something which works? I am unsure.
"Do you want to change things for mental-health patients who’re sometimes confused simply by a big change of colour within their pills? I am unsure.
"Let us do it intelligently and progressively."
The Canadian Press
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