Here you go Cal
Government Claw Backs Major Cause of Drug Review Delays
Canadians Forced to Wait for Best Medicines
AYLMER, QC, Jan. 28 /CNW/ - Canadians wait two years longer than citizens
of the U.S. and Europe for access to new drug treatments, because of a huge
backlog at Health Canada.
Officials from the Therapeutic Products Directorate (TPD), the arm of
Health Canada responsible for drug review and post-market surveillance, told
delegates at The Canadians for Best Medicines Summit there is a delay of 18
months or more before anyone at Health Canada even looks at new drug
submissions. However, once the submission gets out of the massive in-box and
into the hands of a reviewer, Canada's review process is comparable to the
U.S. and Europe.
"It quickly became clear at this Summit that when the cost-recovery
program came in, taxpayer money went out. This crippled the drug review system
and is causing Canadians to wait even longer for the best medicines," said Pat
Kelly organizer of the Summit and chair of the Cancer Advocacy Coalition of
Canada. "This issue could be an early win for the new Minister of Health."
"Instead of advocates slamming bureaucrats, they hammered out solutions
with senior staff from Health Canada," said Kelly. "Now our elected officials
need to do their part and put back the $70 million they bled out of the
system."
The Canadians for Best Medicines 2nd National Summit on Reform of
Canada's Drug Review System represents a breakthrough in public participation
in this policy area. The Summit brought together a broad base of grassroots
delegates from consumer and advocate organizations across the country, as well
as industry and Health Canada, to develop a strategic action plan to ensure
Canadians gain safe and timely access to the best evidence-based medicines.
The Summit also included Canadians who shared their personal stories about
struggles to gain timely access to necessary medication.
Major topics of discussion during the Summit included:
- Funding - Just put it back
- Marketed Health Products Directorate - Fund the post-market
surveillance system
- Meaningful consumer representation in the review process
"Medication, in terms of healthcare, is critical," said Denis Morrice,
President and CEO of The Arthritis Society. "Access to the best and most
effective medications will actually cost the system less as it allows people
to lead productive lives, to keep working and to contribute to the economy. We
need to work together to correct the situation and ensure transparency and
consumer involvement."
Delegates included representatives and consumers from Cancer Advocacy
Coalition of Canada, Arthritis Consumer Experts, the Colorectal Cancer
Association of Canada, the Canadian Lung Association, The Arthritis Society,
the Canadian Diabetes Association, Canadian Cretzfeldt Jakob Society, the
Huntington Society of Canada and the Canadian Breast Cancer Network.
"The TPD needs staff and financial resources to get rid of the backlog
and to meet its own target review times. There is no excuse for letting people
suffer needlessly as a result of these delays," said Kelly. "Access to the
best medicines will keep people out of emergency rooms and hospital beds and
let them get back to living their lives."
The Coalition for Best Medicines represents millions of Canadians living
with serious and debilitating illness whose common goal is to accelerate the
pace of reform through partnerships and consumer involvement.
"The federal government must stop trying to save money on the backs of
seriously ill Canadians," added Kelly a breast cancer survivor and founder of
the first breast cancer support group in Canada. "Sick people are getting
sicker and the only barrier to better health is the backlog on the Health
Canada loading dock."
A summary of the proceedings including the Summit agenda, presentations
and background information can be found at www.piscesonline.ca.
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For further information: Media Contact: Jane Hamilton, See Jane Run
Communications, Tel: (905) 337-2606, Cell: (905) 466-2070, e-mail:
jane@seejanerun.ca
Regards |
