CPhA urges pause on PrescribeIT transaction fee that will threaten the sustainability of Canadian pharmacies

December 17, 2024 (Ottawa): The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is urging Canada Health Infoway to delay the implementation of its proposed $0.20 per transaction fee for PrescribeIT, Canada’s national e-prescribing solution. Set to take effect on January 1, 2025, the fee would place significant financial pressure on pharmacies nationwide and likely result in pharmacies dropping out of the program.

“Pharmacies are being asked to absorb the cost of a solution that benefits the entire health-care system,” said Glen Doucet, CEO of CPhA. “We believe it’s unfair to place this financial burden solely on pharmacies, especially when the program is still in a critical process of being transitioned to new ownership.”

While CPhA recognizes the need to establish a sustainable funding model for PrescribeIT, introducing this new fee during the current acquisition process risks undermining the trust and discouraging the participation of pharmacies, ultimately jeopardizing the program’s adoption and future success.

In a survey of more than 1,300 Canadian pharmacists conducted earlier this year by CPhA, a majority (65%) of respondents said they would stop using the PrescribeIT service all together if the fee is introduced.

The impact on independent pharmacies is a particular concern for CPhA. These pharmacies often operate with tighter margins, and they play a critical role in providing accessible care in our communities across Canada. In many cases, independent pharmacies are simply unable to continue to participate as the cost will be unsustainable.

CPhA has formally requested that Canada Health Infoway pause the implementation of this fee to allow time for the acquisition process to conclude and for alternative funding models to be explored.

“We’ve also brought this issue to the attention of the federal Minister of Health,” Doucet added. “A pause on the fee will ensure that the long-term success of e-prescribing is not jeopardized and that pharmacies are not unfairly burdened with the costs of this important initiative.”

CPhA remains committed to working collaboratively with Canada Health Infoway, the federal government, and other partners to ensure the success of a national e-prescribing solution that serves Canadians fairly and sustainably.

About the Canadian Pharmacists Association

The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is the uniting national voice of pharmacy and the pharmacist profession in Canada. As pharmacists undertake an enhanced role in the delivery of health care services, CPhA ensures that the profession is recognized as a national leader in health care, influencing the policies, programs, budgets and initiatives affecting the profession and the health of Canadians. 

For more information, please contact:

Tyler Gogo
Senior Manager, Communications
Canadian Pharmacists Association
tgogo@pharmacists.ca   
613-293-7223