Ontarians show strong support for generic medicines sector according to Nanos Research
by CM staff
Nanos poll finds 87 percent of Ontarians believe government should prioritize policies to strengthen domestic generic pharmaceutical industry.
TORONTO — In a Nanos Research poll, Ontarians continue to show strong support for the government prioritizing strengthening domestic generic pharmaceutical industry.
Eighty-seven percent of Ontarians believe the provincial government should prioritize policies to strengthen Ontario’s domestic generic pharmaceutical industry. Specifically, more than 77 percent of Ontarians feel governments in Canada should provide subsidies and tax incentives to encourage manufacturers to make and bring new generic medicines to Canada, help manage global supply chain problems and to enhance emergency preparedness. Further, 75 percent of Ontarians also believe that government- and employer-sponsored drug benefit plans should prioritize the use of lower cost generic prescription medicines to make healthcare more affordable.
“This poll makes it clear that Ontario voters understand the need for a robust, resilient domestic manufacturing sector for generic drugs. Our industry provides affordable, efficacious medicines to Ontario patients and employs thousands of Ontario workers,” said Jim Keon, President of the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA). “In fact, the overwhelming majority of Ontario voters recognize that policies such as tax incentives for generic drug manufacturing and, critically, ensuring major employer-sponsored drug plans switch to generics will not only strengthen this important Ontario industry, but will also help to keep drugs affordable for patients.”
“Ontario voters are demonstrating an understanding of the economic needs of this sector and the relationship a strong domestic manufacturing of generic medicines has to reliable supply of affordable prescription drugs,” said Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist and Founder of Nanos Research. “With the upcoming provincial budget, the fact that Ontario voters are so clear in their support for potential government policy changes should be of note to decision makers at Queen’s Park.”
