The Ontario government has introduced a series of major changes to the province’s drug system over the past two years.  Each of these changes has had a negative impact on the sustainability of small, independent pharmacies, forcing them to juggle increased costs, reduced profits and new reporting requirements that mean less time with patients, and in some cases, selling out to a big chain or closing up shop for good.  Many patients are feeling the effects as well, with less face-to-face time with their pharmacist, shortened store hours, cuts to home delivery, and in some cases, the loss of their neighbourhood pharmacy. 

“Independent pharmacists are small business owners and normally wouldn’t undertake an advertising campaign, but we really felt we had no other choice,” said Ben Shenouda, President, Independent Pharmacists of Ontario (IPO).  “We simply cannot sustain any more losses and continue to provide the health care services our customers rely on.”

The campaign includes advertising and in-store materials that will appear in daily and weekly newspapers and independent pharmacies across the province, as well as a website (savemypharmacy.com).   It urges patients to contact their local MPP or the Executive Officer of Ontario’s Public Drug Programs.to let them know they don’t want to lose access to the valuable health services their pharmacist provides.

“As health professionals, we understand the need to get the best value for Ontarians’ health care dollars,” said Shenouda.  “That’s why we are ready to begin working with the government to address these challenges immediately.”

The Independent Pharmacists of Ontario is a non-profit organization that was created to advocate on behalf of the unique needs and interests of Ontario’s independent community pharmacists.  The Association has a diverse and steadily-growing membership of over 1,000 pharmacists from across the province.

For more information, visit www.savemypharmacy.com, or contact:

Ben Shenouda, President, IPO
Tel: 905-792-3011
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