Drugs
CARP research on politicians' drug plans gains huge media exposure
CARP’s revelations about the shocking discrepancies between drug coverage in the provincial formularies of BC and Ontario, and drug coverage available to politicians and civil servants in those two provinces, received wide coverage in Canadian media.
The story was picked up by major newspapers like The National Post, The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Vancouver Province, Halifax Chronicle Herald, Hamilton Spectator, and Victoria Times-Colonist. It also ran on Global and CTV news.
In the study, CARP examined the 73 drugs that had been submitted to the intergovernmental Common Drug Review (CDR) by January 12, 2007:
Of 27 drugs that CDR recommended for inclusion in provincial drug plans, only 15 were covered in the Ontario plan and only 15 were covered in the BC plan. Yet politicians and bureaucrats in both provinces were covered for all 27 drugs under their own plans.
Of 26 drugs that CDR recommended not be included in provincial drug plans, only one was reimbursed under the Ontario plan and only two under the BC plan. Yet again, politicians and bureaucrats in both provinces were covered for all 26 drugs under their own plans.
There were 17 drugs that CDR was still reviewing, and a further 2 drugs in the queue to be reviewed. Of these 19, none were covered under the Ontario plan or under the BC plan. Yet politicians and bureaucrats in both provinces were covered for all 19 of these drugs.
“The optics stink,” said Halifax Chronicle Herald in an editorial. “The gold-plated political plans even reimburse MPs, MPPs and civil servants for drugs not recommended public coverage and – to top even that generosity – drugs still under or awaiting review… On top of politicians’ often lavish pension plans, the message yet again is one of being entitled to their entitlements.”
The Victoria Times-Colonist editorialized, “It’s troubling that Canadian politicians and government employees have benefit plans that give them access to prescription drugs they deny to ordinary citizens… Public support would be easier to command if politicians were leading by example.”
“The double standard should be an embarrassment to provincial and federal politicians,” said the Kelowna Daily Courier. “They receive the gold standard in care, while frail and elderly citizens make do with generic drugs, if they are even approved… If our politicians deserve the full treatment, why don’t seniors deserve the same treatment?”
And the Vancouver Province said, “The fact there’s a pampered elite indulging in the benefits of a two-tier health system is an affront to the principles of equal access to health care. It’s got to stop. Now.”
Published by CARP
Copyright © 2007 CARP, Canada's Association for the 50Plus. All rights reserved.
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CARP’s revelations about the shocking discrepancies between drug coverage in the provincial formularies of BC and Ontario, and drug coverage available to politicians and civil servants in those two provinces, received wide coverage in Canadian media.
The story was picked up by major newspapers like The National Post, The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Vancouver Province, Halifax Chronicle Herald, Hamilton Spectator, and Victoria Times-Colonist. It also ran on Global and CTV news.
In the study, CARP examined the 73 drugs that had been submitted to the intergovernmental Common Drug Review (CDR) by January 12, 2007:
Of 27 drugs that CDR recommended for inclusion in provincial drug plans, only 15 were covered in the Ontario plan and only 15 were covered in the BC plan. Yet politicians and bureaucrats in both provinces were covered for all 27 drugs under their own plans.
Of 26 drugs that CDR recommended not be included in provincial drug plans, only one was reimbursed under the Ontario plan and only two under the BC plan. Yet again, politicians and bureaucrats in both provinces were covered for all 26 drugs under their own plans.
There were 17 drugs that CDR was still reviewing, and a further 2 drugs in the queue to be reviewed. Of these 19, none were covered under the Ontario plan or under the BC plan. Yet politicians and bureaucrats in both provinces were covered for all 19 of these drugs.
“The optics stink,” said Halifax Chronicle Herald in an editorial. “The gold-plated political plans even reimburse MPs, MPPs and civil servants for drugs not recommended public coverage and – to top even that generosity – drugs still under or awaiting review… On top of politicians’ often lavish pension plans, the message yet again is one of being entitled to their entitlements.”
The Victoria Times-Colonist editorialized, “It’s troubling that Canadian politicians and government employees have benefit plans that give them access to prescription drugs they deny to ordinary citizens… Public support would be easier to command if politicians were leading by example.”
“The double standard should be an embarrassment to provincial and federal politicians,” said the Kelowna Daily Courier. “They receive the gold standard in care, while frail and elderly citizens make do with generic drugs, if they are even approved… If our politicians deserve the full treatment, why don’t seniors deserve the same treatment?”
And the Vancouver Province said, “The fact there’s a pampered elite indulging in the benefits of a two-tier health system is an affront to the principles of equal access to health care. It’s got to stop. Now.”
Published by CARP
Copyright © 2007 CARP, Canada's Association for the 50Plus. All rights reserved.
Powered by IMN
posted by Gerry Surtees at Wednesday, February 28, 2007
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