8 - Wednesday, June 22, 1994 - Nonh Shore News Re ge MAIL Pharmacists blast Schreck Dear Editor: David Schreck's statements in Aprit about changes to Pharmacare were definitely based on ignorance and distespect for a profession that has been saving the healtheare sys- tem more money than any other (hrough preventive drug and nen: drug measures, and through refer. rails to doctors when needed, The North Vaneouver-Lonsdale MLA is telling the pationts to “shop for the best deal” on preseriptions. Is this what the stek and the elderly should base dheir choice ol pharmacists on? ‘The one with the lowest professional fee? What about the pharmacist who pives thy best pharmaceutical care! What about the pharmacist who knows patients, their medications and their devel of compliance? How about the pharmacists who monitor patients, explain their medications and provide complete counselling on “over-the-counter” and “ho pub- lic access” medications? What about the pharmacist who makes patients feel comfortable about any medication they are tk- ing? Placing an emphasis on protes- sional fees is misleading. To save on fees, patients we getting more of the same drug at one time, and Pharmacare patients are getting three months at # time of certain medications that need to be moni- tored carefully. This will be more costly to the healtheare system in the long run. - Complications will no doubt arise during a therapy that is not itctions and interaciions with “over: the-counter” medications. We are not owners or defenders of the sniatl pharmacy that charges a higher professional fee. We are new pharmacy graduates who have completed at least five sears of uni- versity edureation to became: phir mavists Who care about our patients and our profession. Pharmacies are not aMowed lo raise charges on medications. They sell medications for the same price bought from the tianutietirers “Phe ony way dora pharmacist to make a diviige is through the professional tee, which ranges front $4.50 ta S88 in BC, Seluregk sald “LP suppose that What pharinacists wanted was a systero that let thea hide increases in the dispensing: fee.” Mr. Schreck, would you eapeet us Lo spend five years a uiniverstty and then to supply free service to our patients? We are not asking $50 or nore an hour as other professionals do, We are only charging a small fee for our services in supplying. med- ications to patients, consulting with their doctors, reviewing interactions with other medications, monitoring, answering drug-related questions and for hundreds of other health- vare-based services we offer, which Selveck is obviously very ignorant about, Ath we tell you, Mr Schreck, is (hat we dre poing to get out to the “real world” you dive in and pric: fice the pharmaceutical care that we learned in school and educate the public. who may aot be aware of our role inthe health profession, Craks lo statements front promi nent vuices like yours, Rola Khalil Teresn Bohdanowiez Oh, Canada: time to try harder Dear Editor: A teenager obviously suffering post-game trauma drove by and said “good effort, eh?" My reply was “not good enough.” He then flipped me his [Q. Now that the diversion is aver let us check the stats on this country. We are now taxed at 48%. ‘The Japanese have been pulling billions of dollars in bonds over the Quebee issue. Our national debt will be our economic Armageddon. The list goes on and on and is worsening. The Stanley Cup is where it belongs — they tried harder, and so must we, each one of us. The teenager's hand sign represented this country's eco- nomic and nationalistic thinking. Oh yes, | think the fleur-de-lis flag of the French Canadian is prettier than our national maple leaf. Go Jays go! Oh, Canada! ARE YOUR WINDOWS SCREAMING FOR COVER? TS dhe pericar tiie ta covet ep. 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