Atlantic health ministers discuss regional generic drug plan

Atlantic health ministers are meeting for a summit on generic drugs Thursday in Charlottetown to discuss a plan that could save the region tens of millions of dollars a year in health-care costs.

In October, the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association of Canada signed a four-year agreement with Canadian provinces that it says would save them a total of $3.8 billion by purchasing generic drugs rather than brand name.

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It's estimated the Atlantic provinces could save $100 million a year by buying more generic drugs. P.E.I. Health Minister Doug Currie says P.E.I.'s savings would be between $12 and 15 million.

P.E.I.'s Health Minister Doug Currie wants part of those savings.

"We often hear of stories of Islanders mortgaging their houses and not able to access high-cost cancer drugs, for example. There's increasing costs of delivering health care in the region and we have to work together. I've always maintained there's support from a regional perspective," said Currie.

"This is a very collaborative conversation. My expectation as the minister is that we're going to be very aggressive. We want outcomes."

Generic drugs cost consumers about 20 per cent of what equivalent brand-name drugs cost, says Jim Keon, president of the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association of Canada.

But there is opposition from large brand name drug companies to any policy to buy more generic drugs

"Our role is to provide headroom in the system. When patents expire, we're going to come on with much lower prices. Governments, employers, people paying out of their pockets will save money, so it shouldn't really be a battle," said Keon.

Meeting facilitator Paul Ledwell said, "It's not just a cost consideration, it's not just about managing costs, it's also about managing health care and making sure that the service is there for the individuals who need it, so it really does require a lot of consideration."