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Are Canadians changing their views on a national pharmacare program?

The issue of a national pharmacare program is more nuanced than it may appear at first glance, said Joe Farago during a presentation at the 2018 Halifax Benefits Summit on Sept. 20. “Canadians are starting to change their views,” said Innovative Medicines Canada’s executive director, private payers and investment, during the conference. Farago pointed to a national poll of health-care providers, managers and the […]

  • October 5, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 07:59

The costs, benefits of pharmacy services on private drug plans

Perceptions of pharmacists are behind the times. While plan members, and even plan sponsors, may see the role of the pharmacist as primarily counting pills, there’s much more that goes into filling a prescription, delegates heard at the 2018 Halifax Benefits Summit in September. This includes keeping up to date with medications, talking with patients and thinking […]

  • October 5, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 07:58

Advice from a 38-year journey with rheumatoid arthritis

As the former senior vice-president of sales in the group customer division of the Great-West Life Assurance Co., Jeff Aarssen is very familiar with drug plans and the challenges facing plans sponsors and administrators. But as someone who has suffered with rheumatoid arthritis for nearly four decades, he also sees those issues in a distinctive light: from the patient […]

  • October 5, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 07:57

A look at four benefits plan models for covering medical marijuana

For Jonathan Zaid, the benefits of medical cannabis aren’t theoretical or clinical; they’re deeply personal. Diagnosed at age 14 with daily persistent headache, a rare and extremely painful condition, Zaid tried more than 40 medications before medical marijuana enabled him to sleep through the night for the first time in five years. Now the director […]

  • October 5, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 07:56

The role of pharmacists in improving access to health care, patient outcomes

Despite significant awareness and discussion around what ails Canada’s health-care system, little has changed, said Rose Dipchand at the 2018 Halifax Benefits Summit on Sept. 20. Substantial economic challenges remain, the population continues to get older and unhealthier, wait times are still increasing and there’s poor adherence to treatment, noted Pharmasave’s regional manager of professional […]

  • October 5, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 07:55

Employers challenged in balancing member care, plan sustainability

Plan sponsors and administrators walk a razor’s edge, striving to ensure members have access to the services they need while also making certain the plan is financially sustainable. Working collaboratively with health-care providers is a critical step, but these partnerships have often proved elusive, delegates heard at the 2018 Halifax Benefits Summit. “There is a disconnect. We […]

  • October 5, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 07:54

Biosimilars have potential to offer relief for rising drug plan costs

While the impact of biologics on patients has proven successful, it’s counterbalanced by an equally significant fiscal impact, delegates heard at the 2018 Halifax Benefits Summit in September. “The impact of biologics on patients is incredible,” said Ned Pojskic, leader of pharmacy and health provider relations at Green Shield Canada. However, he added, the industry has to […]

  • October 5, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 07:53

Personalizing biologic treatment in the age of biosimilars

Don’t confuse biosimilars with generic drugs, cautioned Dr. Ian Blumer at the 2018 Halifax Benefits Summit in September. While the terms may be used interchangeably, these two types of drugs aren’t the same thing, said the endocrinologist and director of the Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre in Whitby, Ont., during his presentation. “Generic drugs are chemicals. […]

  • October 5, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 07:52

Sleep disorders: Why they should be keeping employers up at night

Employers looking to enhance productivity could consider introducing a new program for workers that would encourage them to take a nap each day. The idea has caught on in the United States with organizations like Google Inc., Ben & Jerry’s and the House of Representatives all offering employees the opportunity to get a little shuteye […]

  • October 16, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00

A call for more solutions to address the growing diabetes burden

With 3.4 million Canadians living with the disease, diabetes is taking a toll on Canadians and the country’s health system. In addition to the human toll, there’s a significant economic impact. The disease cost the Canadian health system $12.2 billion in 2010, a figure expected to rise to $16.9 billion by 2020. As well, Irene […]

  • October 16, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00