20 — Sunday, June 28, 1998 — North Shore News

Mary Segal
Contributing Writer

AS we get older,
many of us find that
we need prescription
drugs or over-the-
counter medications
to help us cope with
some of the problems
of aging.

We may have high blood
pressure, arthritis or high
cholesterol.

The North Shore Seniors’
Health Consumer Council
met recently to Icarn more
about a variety of medica-
tions, haw they alfeet our
bodics and how the B.C.
Pharmacare program works
for seniors,

One topic of discussion
was a system Known as refer-
ence-based pricing, which
was intraduced two years
ago.

The system has raised
questions from individuals
who may have found that
they are now being charged
for a drug that was previous-
ly paid = for ~—s through
Pharmacare.

In order to heip us under-
stand the system, we invited a
pharmacist, Ruby Virani,
who is a consultant with
Pharmacare, and Dr. David
Martin, a North Shore family
physician, to come to a mect-
‘ing of the Health Consumer
Council. .

Representatiy es of more
than’ 20 seniors’ groups had
completed a questionnaire,
which ‘told us some interest-

ing facts about North Shore”

seniors.

“Among these facts:
73% take some prescription
drugs, ranging from one to
seven different medications;

It's not often we suggest taking
2 pill based on non-conclusive
evidence but there is more
information corroborating
that low levels of certain B-vit-
amins can increase the risk of
heart disease. So cat green,
leafy vegetables daily and take
a vitamin supplement: that
pravides 400 meg of folic acid,
2 mg of B- -6and t mg of B-12.
Hel Ding you understand your

ications is what we do
best Whether it is a question
on heart medications or any
other, let our pharmacists help
you soon.

Free Parking

Free Delivery for Pharmacy
Prescri tions

PHARMACY
Mot St. Georges |

985-8771.

B 60% use over-the-counter
medications such as laxatives,
pain killers or herbal reme-
dies, and

@ 40% have had a bad reac-
tion to medications.

The speakers gave us a
great deal of useful advice
and answered many ques-
tions.

From Virani we learned
that Pharmacare pays tor low:
est-cost or generic medica-
tions.

Virani also told us that the
pharmacist should inform the
customer if the prescribed
drug is not covered by
Pharmacare.

Reference-based pricing
presently covers three types
of drugs: non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory (for arthritis),
diuretics or beta blockers (for
hypertension) and medica-
tions for aleers or stomach
acid problems.

If the drug is nor working,
Virani advises returning to
veur doctor, who can request
another drug, to be cov-
ered under Pharmacare.

This could take
month for approval.
retroactive — payments
available.

Martin noted that taking
medication of any kind can
present a risk.

Your — physician

one
No
are

aan

’. SENIORS
Prescription drug advice dispensed

approve a prescription retill
in response to a phone call
from the pharmacist.

Our-of-date medications
can be returned to the phar-
macy for disposal. Martin
warns against using outdated
medications, which can be
useless or harmful, as is the
case with tecracyeline.

Use “seven-day boxes” ——
pill holders with a separate

compartment for cack dav of

the week -— to sort medica-
tions.

Martin also advises thar
when taking a new drug. ask
for a two-week supply.

Tell the pharmacist this is
anew prescription and vou
will not be charged an addi-
tional dispensing fee when

you pick up the remainder of

the prescription after two
weeks, :

Some other information
thar was dispensed:
@ Pharmanet is the computer
network that links all B.C.
drug profiles of individuals.
By 1999, all hospitals and
emergency rooms will be on-
line.
W Dispensing fees vary from
pharmacy to pharmacy, to a
maximum of $7.50, so shop
around. Seniors pay a maxi-
mum of $200 in dispensing
tees per calendar year.
@ Anyone with a drug allergy

# This unbeatable price inciudes initial consultation, all pre- and
post-operative care‘ and all necessary medications!

All major credit cards and financing pians available.

@ Includes a lifetime of re-treatments if required (no conditions apply).

* Corporate and Union rates available!

Seqal at 985-3852 or drop a
line to Lieusvien Seniors?’
Planning Society, North
Building, 600 W. Queens Ka,
North Van, B.C, V7N 213.

ar pharmacist.

Mary Sequl is coordinator
of Liousview Seniors’ Planning
Society. Ideas for future
columns are welcome. Contact

should medi-alert
bracelet.

@ Pharmacare, at 660-1738,
can help with any questions
unanswered by your doctor

wWwelboa

NEWS photo Terry Poters

Shuttle in service

PARK Royat has donated its shuttle bus to Senior's Hub, a program of Capilano
Community Services Society. The 12-seat bus, which the mall retired from service a
couple of years ago, will be used to shuttle seniors to and from functions. With Cindy
Lone, right, of Park Royal is Molly Crossley, at 94 the oldest member of Seniors’ Hub.

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