I have two quick questions. Well, they're not that quick, but the second one is quick.
Mr. Potter, from NIHB, can you comment on your policy of forced switching to generic drugs? Isn't this a policy that's based purely on cost containment, without taking into account the health of aboriginal Canadians, which of course should be the priority? What happens if the drug the patient is switched to does not work for him or her? If it's, as I suspect, a policy based purely on cost containment, can you tell us how much money the department saves by switching these clients to generic drugs, when of course you have to factor in the extra costs incurred for transportation and doctor visits as a result of changing these prescriptions?
Finally, why does this policy of forced switching to generics only apply to NIHB and not to Veterans Affairs and the Canadian Forces?
Thank you.