Pharmacy and Government

  • Speaker Background

    • Pharmacist with 40 years of experience, graduated from U of T
    • Manager at Ontario's Exceptional Access Program (EAP)
    • Focus on connection between pharmacies, government, and health systems

  • Introduction to Discussion

    • Invitation to students for questions about pharmacies and government
    • Emphasis on fairness and equity in drug reimbursement

  • Drug Reimbursement Process in Ontario

    • Governed by fairness due to being a public taxpayer-supported program
    • Processes ensure that decisions are equitable across patients
    • National level oversight provided by the Canada Drug Agency
      • Changed its name from CADET (Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology and Health)
    • Drug submissions evaluated by expert committees including clinicians and economists
    • Recommendations lead to collaborative negotiations among provinces for drug funding
      • Example: Negotiating up to 80% reduction in drug costs
    • Importance of making evidence-based decisions to fund drugs fairly

  • Financial Overview of Drug Funding

    • EAP spending totals approximately $1.5 billion last fiscal year
    • Increase in drug costs over the years, recent oral cancer drugs averaging $10,000/month
    • Comparison with other funding sources: ODD formula supporting 5,500 drugs, totaling $6 billion/year
    • Significant increase in funding from $500 million in 2011 to current levels

  • Challenges in Drug Pricing and Access

    • Continuous struggle to balance equitable access with financial sustainability
    • Issues in funding decisions, especially in cancer drug reimbursements
    • Evidence review can lead to negative recommendations impacting drug approvals

  • Career Pathways into Government and Personal Experience

    • Varied paths: from hospital pharmacy to EAP management
    • Speaker's experience spans community pharmacy, hospital roles, education, and government
    • Transition driven by a desire to impact healthcare broadly beyond direct patient care
    • Importance of co-op placements in understanding government roles and expectations

  • Opportunities for Pharmacy Students in the Public Sector

    • EAP hires co-op students from Waterloo and U of T to expose them to government work
    • Over 50% of EAP pharmacists are former co-op students
    • Benefit of having previous experience when applying for government roles

  • Roles and Responsibilities of Pharmacists in Government

    • Focus on drug reimbursement, negotiation, public health, and policy development
    • Leadership roles, including those in inspections and auditing, which ensure compliance
    • Collaborative roles with various health organizations for drug access

  • Skills and Characteristics for Government Roles

    • Attention to detail, critical thinking, strong communication skills, and a passion for patient care necessary
    • Variety in duties may include IT and strategic planning tasks

  • Application Tips for Government Jobs

    • Importance of a strong CV and cover letter, avoiding spelling and grammatical errors
    • Submit applications promptly by deadlines, and prepare references
    • Be prepared for interviews with both written and verbal presentations, often with set questions disclosed in advance
    • Characteristics valued by the team include teamwork, detail orientation, and proactive patient advocacy

  • Conclusion

    • Opportunities exist for pharmacists to impact healthcare systems on a large scale
    • Work-life balance, job security, and career variety mentioned as key benefits of government employment
    • Government roles in pharmacy intertwine with larger public health goals and policymaking, extending beyond traditional pharmacy functions.