Pharmacy loyalty ban in jeopardy

Complaint to feds may keep points plan

Acomplaint filed to the federal competition bureau could derail an attempt by the Alberta College of Pharmacists to ban loyalty and reward programs with the sale of prescription drugs.

“Nothing the college of pharmacists has either made public on their website or available to their members ... has convinced me that this is something that rises to the level where the college needs to put in place a prohibition,” said Roxanne Stewart, vicepresident of the Chronic Pain Association of Canada, which filed the complaint earlier this week.

The college argues that offering loyalty programs, such as Air Miles or Shoppers Optimum points, at the time drug purchases are made entices individuals to delay prescription refills to earn bonus points.

This could put a strain on the health-care system.

Then, earlier this month, the ACP delayed a final decision due to “the complexity of the issue” and a “large volume of information received” from the public and pharmacists.

College officials did not respond Friday to the Herald’s interview requests.

Stewart contends the proposed ban has nothing to do with the safety of patients and is motivated by the business interests of smaller pharmacies.

“There’s other ways to approach what they’re saying could harm patients than simply banning inducements,” she said.

“It makes be believe that their motivation could be more tied to levelling some kind of business playing field, in which case they’re trying to regulate business practices rather than regulate their profession to promote health in Alberta.”

A spokesman with the federal Competition Bureau declined to comment on Stewart’s complaint, citing “reasons of confidentiality.”