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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19,1992, PAGE 13 -mi -8-4J- ~ A CHANGES TO THE ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM The Ministry of Health is changing the Ontario Drug Benefit program, effective August 25. The ministry asked an independent group of health experts to retommend changes tg the program. As a result, some new drugs are being added, and others are béing taken off. Prescription drugs necessary for serious health conditions will continue to be available, at no direct cost, to those on the program. As well, over-the-counter products such as insulin for diabetes are still covered. Among the products being added to the program are a new slow release drug to treat Parkinson's disease, and a drug for the treatment of shingles. Products like sunscreens, multiple vitamins and antihis- tamines are among those being removed. In total, the changes affect a small pèr- centage of drugs covered by the program. WHY MAKE THE CHANGES7 The government is working to better manage health' care spending. It now spends over $1 billion a 'year on the Ontaro Drug Benefit program alone. Costs have risen 18 per cent annually during the past .10 years. With these changes we hope to keep the increase to .1 per cent. MORE INFORMATION? The Ontarno Drug Benefit program pro- vides benefits to people 65 and over, and people receiving social assistance. For more information on how these changes may affect you, call the min- istry's toll-free Infoline. 1-800 268-1154 IN TORONTO 314-5518 TDD 1-800-387-5559 0Ontariýo 0. -ii/s .c:J.#1t; ?/444J:.ILI~~I.~',à q4k & t ' 4 A. 2i - -A REFUL