Action needed on generic drug kickbacks

Re Stop the kickbacks, Editorial, Jan. 15

Thank you for showing rightful rage that generic drug companies continue to give pharmacists illegal kickbacks to stock their generic drugs, though this practice was banned in Ontario 13 years ago.

Published studies indicate that Canada pays $2 billion more for generic drugs than their cost justifies. Canadian generic drug prices are greatly inflated due to huge illegal discounts and contrived commissions that are offered by drug manufacturers to pharmacies.

Regretfully, our provincial drug formulary still permits generic drugs to be sold at sky-high prices when compared to most of the other countries. As our Ontario government is being ripped off, we citizens must demand early action on generic drug kickbacks.

The above sad situation is evident from an informative 2016 opinion piece published by the Toronto Star by Dr. Amir Attaran, professor of law and medicine at the University of Ottawa: “Apotex’s medicines are priced lower in far-flung New Zealand than here in Ontario. Consider Apotex’s version of amoxicillin, a basic antibiotic that just about everyone has taken: New Zealand’s government pays $0.039 per 500 mg capsule, but Ontario’s pays $0.342 — eight fold higher. Or Apotex’s version of amlodipine, a common blood pressure drug: New Zealand pays $0.027 for a 10 mg tablet, but Ontario’s $0.359 — 13 fold higher.”

How long will it take Ontario’s minister of health to bring this unlawful practice to an end?

Rudy Fernandes, president, Global Health Strategy Inc., Mississauga