Manulife Financial is being applauded for reversing a decision to give Loblaw pharmacies the exclusive right to fill prescriptions on certain specialty medications for chronic illnesses.

“We’re pleased and consider this a real win for CARP,” CARP’s chief operating and chief operating officer Bill VanGorder told Zoomer Radio’s Fight Back with Libby Znaimer, “We were one of the first to have the story with Jane Brown last week when this came out. We expressed our concern both to the government and to the companies and we got the change.”

Listen to Bill’s full conversation by clicking here.

It was announced by Manulife Monday that the insurer’s plan members who take specialty medications will now be able to fill their prescriptions at any pharmacy of their choice.

The exclusive agreement with Shoppers sparked competition concerns. It also drew negative feedback from some customers who were already accessing specialty drugs at other independent pharmacies.

Manulife Canada President and CEO Naveed Irshad said in a statement, “the company has listened to and is addressing the concerns it has heard over the past week.”