For Immediate Release
5 February, 2024
NDP MHA Jordan Brown (Labrador West) is sounding the alarm on the new deal with Manulife and Loblaw’s that states Manulife will only cover certain specialty prescriptions if they're filled at Loblaw-owned pharmacies. Brown says that this is a serious problem for many Labradorians, due to the nearest Loblaw-owned pharmacy being 600 kilometres away from Labrador West.
“We’ve had a significant amount of calls to my office from constituents, many former mine workers, who are worried about securing their prescriptions in the wake of this new deal,” said Brown. “They aren’t sure about what will be covered at their regular pharmacy, or if they will have to travel 600km to receive their medication.”
Brown says that the company has been tight-lipped about the transition, claiming that only a small percentage of consumer’s access medications through the Specialty Drug Care program, but Brown says that any limited access to pharmacare, or any form of healthcare, is unacceptable.
“There are 260 specialty drugs included in this plan with Loblaw’s, drugs that Labradorians need access to. It just is not good enough,” said Brown. “Labradorians should not have to worry about accessing their prescriptions. Even with the ability to have them shipped, we know that Labrador faces weather that often impacts delivery, so are Labradorians going to have to cross their fingers that they get their medication on time?
"That shouldn't happen in this country. Exclusionary deals like this mark a very scary turn in our public health care system, and we must stand up against any form of privatization or deals in our system that take away consumer choice and prioritize company profit.
“Premier Furey should follow in the footsteps of the Pharmacy Association in speaking up against this deal, standing with those across the Big Land, and portions of the island, who will have this added barrier to accessing medication.”
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For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media Relations Manager, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca