Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask questions of the Minister of Health and Social Services on the drug purchasing policies, bulk purchasing policies. I understand that the western provinces announced last year that they had an agreement and arrangement for bulk purchases of drugs to cut down the costs. I’m wondering – we heard yesterday that we are at the table with the provinces – have we signed on with that deal. Are we able to take advantage of that deal as several Members of the House recommended some time before that deal was made?
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are part of the rest of the provinces in any sort of bulk purchase of pharmaceuticals that is negotiated.
Is that now in place? What are the provinces that are part of that deal and associated with that? Maybe I’ll leave it at that for now.
Yes, that is in place now. All provinces and territories are part of the deal and I believe at this time there is only one drug where they are able to buy in bulk at this time. Just one.
My original question was: Are we part of the western provinces bulk purchasing deal? I assume they have a bulk purchasing deal that deals with more than one drug, but I would also be interested in what our savings are with the one drug the Minister mentioned.
I don’t know what the savings are on the bulk purchase of that particular drug to the Northwest Territories. I know there is a plan to add more drugs onto this bulk purchase across the province. I think it’s being led by maybe, I believe, British Columbia that has the lead role, but I wasn’t aware that it was only the western p provinces. I can get that information on that specific project and let the Member know.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for those comments. I have to say that it’s very upsetting, that despite this opportunity being brought up repeatedly by this side of the House, that we are not taking advantage of these opportunities. I would like to get full information provided by the Minister on what exactly we are doing, what agreements we’re part of now, what our plan is in the future, and why we are not part of the western Ministers bulk purchasing plan that would yield significant savings. Would the Minister commit to providing that in lieu of the lack of action on this?
I know that the department is developing a Pharmaceutical Strategy for the NWT health system, so I’m sure that I would be able to get the information. Because I don’t have the information here specific to the western provinces bulk purchase of drugs doesn’t mean that we’re not engaged in it. What I do know is that we’re engaged with the federal one, and from what I heard was that at this time it’s some process to add drugs to this and at this time there is only one that they’re able to achieve across the territory. But if the western provinces are moving through quicker and they’re having better success, then I’m sure we’re a part of that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
