Jean Coutu change of tone towards the minister Barrette

Photo Agence QMI, Sebastien St-Jean

Pierre Couture

Monday, 2 October 2017 21:55

UPDATE
Monday, 2 October 2017 21:55

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The hatchet is buried. The family Coutu has changed radically in tone towards the minister of Health, Gaétan Barrette.

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To the question of whether the policies put forward by the minister of Health pushed him to sell his company, the pharmacist Jean Coutu has, rather had good words for her, Monday.

“Not at all. I congratulate Dr. Barrette. It has made health care closer to the customer. I’m not afraid of saying so. If he needs a partner, we will be there “, he suggested.

Courage

And yet, last July, at the annual meeting of the shareholders of the company, Mr. Coutu had been speaking publicly to acknowledge the difficult climate in Quebec in the field of pharmacy.

Jean Coutu not digested not the “lack of respect” that was shown by the government Couillard in its health reforms, and the famous pharmacist had not bothered to shoot at red cannon balls on the minister of Health.

Jean Coutu group deplored the government’s decision to limit to 50% the percentage of medications Pro Doc that could be sold in pharmacies.

On Monday, Mr. Coutu has rather recognized the courage of the decisions taken by the minister Barrette on the pharmacy industry.

“We have not always been of the same opinion. It has often been severe with us. He thought it was his role. I admire his direction to bring the solution diagnostic, the closer to the customer “, argued the pharmacist of 90 years.

-With the collaboration of Francis Halin