Pharmacist Frank Murgic of Tecumseh, Ontario, had the following letter to the editor published in today’s Windsor Star:

As a pharmacist, I am extremely concerned about the impact the Ontario government’s planned funding cuts would have on my patients and my pharmacy. I nearly choked on my coffee when I read that the Ministry of Health spokesman said the door is open to negotiate with the pharmacy industry the best possible strategy to lower drug costs.

Every pharmacist in Ontario knows that’s not the case. In August 2009, pharmacy presented a detailed proposal on how to modernize the pharmacy funding and services model in a way that would meet the needs of patients, community pharmacies and the government — including lowering drug costs.

Five months later, the government has still not responded to the pharmacy proposal, nor has it presented its own plan to pharmacy. It has, however, cancelled the last five scheduled meetings between the ministry and pharmacy representatives.

That’s not an open door, it’s not negotiating and it’s not the right way to find real health care solutions for Ontarians.