Twenty-two national patient groups and networks representing both oncology and non-oncology disease areas today expressed strong support for the decision announced on April, 2022 by the federal Minister of Health, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, with regards to the Amendments to the Patented Medicines Regulations providing new tools to ensure that the prices for patented medicines entering Canada are not excessive.

Letter to Minister of Health regarding PMPRB – For signatures – Most Recent Draft – April 22, 2022 – 1.24pm

The decision, including the implementation of a new list of countries with pricing policies more comparable to Canada to determine its drug prices entering the country, is important to the improvement of access to quality medicines, generating significant savings over the coming years which they are pleased he announced will be used to build a sustainable healthcare system.

They are also pleased that the federal government announced its continuing work to streamline the approval of new drugs, develop a national strategy for drugs for rare diseases and proceed with an ambitious biomanufacturing and life sciences strategy. They urge the federal government to continue to work closely across the federal government and with its provincial and territorial counterparts to ensure that their health system policies and processes align with these goals including ensuring timely access to innovative drugs, recognizing that the timelines for treatments for life threatening diseases and drugs that significantly enhance quality of life must be expedited.

For further information contact : Louise Binder louise.binder49@gmail.com