A line from last week’s budget is a prescription for concern for New Brunswick pharmacists, who say the government is cutting into their bottom line by capping generic drug costs.
Ryan Wright says filling prescriptions is only part of what he does and that pharmacists play a big role in the health-care system.
“We're almost acting like, I wouldn't want to say doctor, but sometimes we're triaging patients," says Wright, a pharmacist in the village of McAdam, N.B.
Wright says pharmacists don’t get paid for many of the extra services they offer; they only get paid for dispensing medicine and now, a move by the provincial government to cap generic drug costs threatens to cut into his revenues.
“All of my expenses are fixed. The only thing I can do is reduce hours or lay off, possibly,” says Wright. “I haven't really crunched all the numbers on that to say there will be one, but hopefully there will not."
Wright’s operation is small. He employs eight people - two full-time, six part-time - and in a town of fewer than 1,500, even single layoffs hit hard.
Liberal MLA Donald Arseneault says pharmacies in cities like Fredericton or Moncton may be better positioned to deal with the impact.
“They're more the corporate stores, the bigger stores, and they can absorb some of these losses, but even at that, it's still big,” says Arseneault.
“But in a small community, in rural New Brunswick, I know back home it's definitely going to have an impact."
Some pharmacists say smaller pharmacies may be forced to close over the issue. Residents in McAdam hope that isn’t the case with their pharmacy, as the next closest drug store is in Fredericton.
“Well, figure an hour in to Fredericton, an hour back, $25 worth of gas," says McAdam resident Jerry Brentell.
Wright is hoping the government reconsiders.
"I didn't think when I bought this place that I'd possibly have to lay people off, or reduce hours. It never really came through my mind. I feel defeated over it.”
The provincial health minister was not available for comment today.
