There is a dispensing fee report, but it dates back to December 2018. It's best that you only use it as reference. https://www.manionwilkins.com/wp-conten ... wdc-EN.pdfarchvenus14 wrote: ↑ Does anyone know where I can find a list of drug dispensing fees for downtown Toronto? With the new legislation for the drug refills to be only once a month, my dispensing fees have tripled and would be great to find something more affordable than the usual $12.99 at Shoppers or Rexall.
TIA
If they are sincere in keeping the supply going and not profiteering, they should not charge the customer multiple dispensing fees on the same prescription. This is not difficult to implement, they can waive dispensing fees on the second and subsequent refill of the same prescription, prorate the dispensing fees of multiple dispense of the same prescription, apply credits to the customer account for the multiple dispense of the same prescription, give out "super bucks" (previously from Superstore) for the multiple dispense of the same prescription, etc. Unfortunately, they took this opportunity of keeping the supply going to make a profit from multiple dispensing fees of the same prescription,Skadefryd wrote: ↑ I understand wanting to keep supply going, but it's definitely annoying having to pay more dispensing fees.
I'm less familiar with Ontario but I can't imagine they vary too much from the other provinces - usually they range from $9 to $13 with Costco being on the lower end. I've got mine with Shoppers as well and I figure the hassle of switching isn't worth a few bucks (especially with lineups at Costco being what they are now).
Yeah but from downtown Toronto the closest one is a 2 hour walk.starchoice wrote: ↑ Costco has the cheapest dispensing fee.
This is great. Thank you!
https://www.costcopharmacy.ca/default.aspxarchvenus14 wrote: ↑ Does anyone know where I can find a list of drug dispensing fees for downtown Toronto? With the new legislation for the drug refills to be only once a month, my dispensing fees have tripled and would be great to find something more affordable than the usual $12.99 at Shoppers or Rexall.
TIA
Great link! Never knew about this. It seems to be nationwide
Wrong, mandating the 30 day supply limit was the government's decision, not pharmacy's decision. Pharmacies who risk their lives during the pandemic shouldn't have to work for free (and hence waive dispensing fee) due to a decision that Christine elliott made. Although it is a valid concern that this imposes higher costs to us public picking up prescriptions, I think the ministry should be the ones to step up and absorb the extra dispensing fee costs to consumers. After all, it was the ministry decision to cap 30 days.stack21 wrote: ↑ If they are sincere in keeping the supply going and not profiteering, they should not charge the customer multiple dispensing fees on the same prescription. This is not difficult to implement, they can waive dispensing fees on the second and subsequent refill of the same prescription, prorate the dispensing fees of multiple dispense of the same prescription, apply credits to the customer account for the multiple dispense of the same prescription, give out "super bucks" (previously from Superstore) for the multiple dispense of the same prescription, etc. Unfortunately, they took this opportunity of keeping the supply going to make a profit from multiple dispensing fees of the same prescription,
I don't believe anyone is asking pharmacies to work for free.blackcoffeetings wrote: ↑Pharmacies who risk their lives during the pandemic shouldn't have to work for free (and hence waive dispensing fee)
This.stack21 wrote: ↑ If they are sincere in keeping the supply going and not profiteering, they should not charge the customer multiple dispensing fees on the same prescription. This is not difficult to implement, they can waive dispensing fees on the second and subsequent refill of the same prescription, prorate the dispensing fees of multiple dispense of the same prescription, apply credits to the customer account for the multiple dispense of the same prescription, give out "super bucks" (previously from Superstore) for the multiple dispense of the same prescription, etc. Unfortunately, they took this opportunity of keeping the supply going to make a profit from multiple dispensing fees of the same prescription,
Unless your pharmacist is the owner of his/her own independent store, the profits from the dispensing fee goes into the pockets of the big grocery chain owners (not to mention many grocery chains run pharmacies at a loss to gain customers).goodking wrote: ↑ This.
Pharmacies are most certainly an essential service and they absolutely deserve commendation for working on the frontlines of the current pandemic.
However, after Canada emerges from this crisis, I recommend that all Canadians call for a full government inquest into this exploit.
It is very important that we never forget the fact that pharmacists took advantage of this opportunity to triple their fees, and that we take action to prevent them from doing so in the future.
Whoever who make that 30-day rule should have thought about the public paying $30 for dispensing fee instead of $10 dispensing fee for a 90-day supply. And the Pharmacies should have taken the initiative not to burden the public with 3 times the dispensing fees from that 30 day supply limit. If it is the ministry as you said, then the ministry should not have burden the public with extra costs.blackcoffeetings wrote: ↑ Wrong, mandating the 30 day supply limit was the government's decision, not pharmacy's decision. Pharmacies who risk their lives during the pandemic shouldn't have to work for free (and hence waive dispensing fee) due to a decision that Christine elliott made. Although it is a valid concern that this imposes higher costs to us public picking up prescriptions, I think the ministry should be the ones to step up and absorb the extra dispensing fee costs to consumers. After all, it was the ministry decision to cap 30 days.
Isn't the pharmacist legally required to talk to you in person when you are prescribed a new medication? As far back as I remember (and using MANY pharmacies) the pharmacist always pushes for a consultation after pick-up, even if it'sstack21 wrote: ↑
A lot of people also risk their lives and even more risker, not just the pharmacist. How many times does a pharmacist interact with the customer? A lot of times, customer drop off prescription, the clerk punch it in, after waiting time, pick up from the clerk. No face time with pharmacist at all (Walmart, Superstore, Shoppers, or any other grocery store pharmacy)
You're right. The ministry made a decision and did not think about how to deal with the added cost to consumers. Pharmacies didn't decide to cap the 30 days and increase number of dispensing fees, it was the ministry's decision. And now many of us in the public are blaming the pharmacy (middle man) rather than going to the ministry (decision maker) to address the concerns of higher costs. A pharmacists hourly wage is set at $xx/hr and does not change nor is dependent of the number of prescription fee he/she charges.goodking wrote: ↑ I don't believe anyone is asking pharmacies to work for free.
However, many Canadians are concerned about the tripling of dispensing fees during a crisis.
As an example, an individual with 6 prescriptions with $12.99 dispensing fees, has seen their cost rise from $77.94 to $233.82!
Additionally, there are questions why those who have chronic long-term illnesses, who have been prescribed the same prescription for years in 90 day refills, now have to make three times as many trips to the pharmacy at just the time we are strongly being advised to stay home. For those with compromised immune systems, two additional trips into a pharmacy buried deep at the back of a busy grocery store is not a trivial undertaking.
RFD member bylo has been facilitating another ongoing discussion in this subforum about this sudden 300% increase in dispensing fees:
PSA: Pharmacies refilling Rx for 30 days due to COVID-19 panic; 3x dispensing fees
This.
Pharmacies are most certainly an essential service and they absolutely deserve commendation for working on the frontlines of the current pandemic.
However, after Canada emerges from this crisis, I recommend that all Canadians call for a full government inquest into this exploit.
It is very important that we never forget the fact that pharmacists took advantage of this opportunity to triple their fees, and that we take action to prevent them from doing so in the future.
Counting is a very small portion of what is done. The data entry time, time to bill your insurance, counseling time, etc. is the same whether it is something off the shelf or if it needs to be counted. A typical script takes 5-10 minutes to fill, $10 per script means $60-120 revenue from dispensing fees per hour, assuming an unlimited amount of customers. Considering a pharmacist makes $35-45 an hour, and a technician makes $25 an hour, they're just breaking even on dispensing fees in most cases.tew wrote: ↑ Looks like Costco is the only place that's has a low fee ($4.49). Walmart use to be cheap years ago but with a $9.97 fee they are almost as much as a drug store now. I hate that the fee is the same for everything. It should be less for items that they just slap on a label like Epi-pens and other items that they just take off the shelf.
