Issue link: http://clhia.uberflip.com/i/406567
30 In this context, there are examples from other jurisdictions that could be leveraged. In the U.K., for example, prescribing committees have been adopted. These committees work at a regional level throughout the U.K. and are mandated to provide the strategy to ensure consistent high quality and cost effective use of medicines. THEREFORE, THE CLHIA RECOMMENDS THAT: • PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS IMPLEMENT PRESCRIBING COMMITTEES, WHOSE MANDATE WILL BE TO SET PRESCRIBING STANDARDS FOR PRESCRIBERS BASED ON A RIGOROUS ASSESSMENT OF THE CLINICAL AND COST EFFECTIVENESS OF DRUGS. d.2 Encouraging Active Consumerism Pharmacists represent the final step in the drug cost system and they play an important role in managing costs. For instance, pharmacists' mark-ups and dispensing fees, along with their ability to influence generic substitution or therapeutic substitution are key drivers of costs. While the manufacturer wholesale price of drugs is fairly consistent for both public and private payers, there can be significant differences in the price for private payers after the pharmacist mark-up and dispensing fees are factored in. This results in different prices for public and private payers, which clearly is not equitable. The Canadian life and health insurance industry believes that it is important to encourage active consumerism in the market as a way to influence these pricing practices. In order for this to occur, however, consumers need to have visibility into these costs and also need to be better educated about the implications of cost on the sustainability of their drug coverage. THEREFORE, THE CLHIA RECOMMENDS THAT: • ALL PHARMACY RECEIPTS IN CANADA CLEARLY DISCLOSE THE DISPENSING FEE CHARGED, AS WELL AS THE PHARMACY MARK-UP, IN ORDER TO INCENT A GREATER DEGREE OF CONSUMERISM IN THE MARKET.