The Department of Health and Wellness approached Doctors Nova Scotia to provide input into how to lower prescription drug prices for those who use Nova Scotia Pharmacare, a provincial drug plan designed to help with the cost of prescription drugs.

At the time the association was asked to provide feedback, Nova Scotia paid more for generic drugs than most developed countries and several other Canadian provinces.

The association elicited feedback from doctors. Their primary message was that they support efforts to obtain fair pricing through a focus on competitive pricing, whether this is through a tendering process or the establishment of rules around price increases.

 When discussing competitive pricing, the theme from physicians was patient care. It was made clear in responses that inroads into pricing shouldn’t adversely affect patient care by making appropriate and effective medication more difficult to obtain.

Physicians were supportive of initiatives that would result in appropriate and effective patient care, at the best possible price. There was clearly a concern expressed by physicians that patients must be protected from any financial hardship or lack of access to treatment through decisions or policies resulting from the review.

Doctors Nova Scotia submitted these comments to government in September 2010.