Rural residents will feel the impact if the province continues with its proposed changes to the drug plan.
That is the feeling of Rosanne Currie — the co-owner of Pellow Pharmacy in Walkerton.
The McGuinty government plans to eliminate fees paid to pharmacists in a bid to lower the cost of generic drugs.
Currie — a member of the Ontario Community Pharmacies Coalition — says it will have a negative impact on all residents — but rural residents in particular.
Currie says pharmacists will no longer be as available to answer residents questions.
Currie says her pharmacy will also have to charge fees for delivery and they will not be able to hire anymore staff and maybe even change store owners.
Currie agrees there needs to be drug reform and lower costs for drugs — but she argues these particular cuts will compromise people’s health.
She notes the Coalition is willing to talk about the issue further with the province.
Currie is also happy other people are taking up the fight — including Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch who has started a petition against the cuts.