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News

November 13, 2002

 

  
   

David Sabanes
DP Contributor

According to a poll released on October 29 by the Seniors
etwork BC, more than 75 percent of British
olumbians believe changes to Pharmacare will result in
nancial destitution for seniors and families who are

Hependent on pharmaceutical aid.

Between October 10 and 23, the McIntyre and Mustel
irm surveyed 500 British Columbians over the phone,
Hiscovering that although only 38.6 percent of BC
iberal voters think the changes are fair, the majority
54.5 percent) believe that changes will inflict steep

Poll Predicts Pharmacare Costs
ill Cause Financial Suffering

financial suffering on those in need.

Only 18.2 percent of those polled approved of the
changes claiming that the adjustments were necessary to
deal with the rising cost of-drugs.

Joyce Jones, co-chairperson of the Seniors Network
stated that “forcing seniors to choose between prescrip-
tions and food will put even more pressure on a health
care system that’s already bursting at the seams.”

The unyielding Jones continued “But this government
is way out of step with the public if it thinks it can push

seniors into poverty while protecting drug companies’
profits.”

The margin for error by the polling firm is reportedly
at a low 4.9 percent, 19 times out of 20.

A forum on the Pharmacare cuts in Vancouver was
recently held by The Seniors Network. Speakers included
UBC population health researcher Robin Hanvelt,
Pharmawatch’s Colleen Fuller and Ben Swankey of the
Old Age Pensioners’ Organization.

 

 

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