Another informative post lifted from SH by Stockietalkie.
Boy, I'm getting good at snippin and tucking. Perhaps a mid-life career shift.
I had a very interesting discussion with a head a patient advocacy organization.
We agreed that the HC decision was unbelievable.
He is very close to the situation at Health Canada from a number of perspectives, funding, scientific capability, politics, etc.
His comments about HC were the following:
-everyone at HC from the Minister of Health to the front line workers, knows they have serious problems and are trying to address them
-the last two ministers have started to reform the system, and they recognize they are going too slow
-the questions that need to be answered include: what things does HC do and what does HC accept from another agency? Which standards/protocols should HC use? the UK, US, EU? this is a very complicated issue
-the other agencies are all looking into minimizing the duplication, but that is not moving quickly either
-however, he said the reform MUST go faster, people are sick and the current situation is unacceptable
-HC has less than 1/10 the budget of the FDA, but they must approve the same number of drugs as the US(and this can not be done on the current budget)
-he would like to do more, but how much can you criticize when you know the job can't be done on this budget?
My take is that we should quickly review all overdue drugs that have been approved in the UK "or" US that look safe. There is NO reason that patients and companies should suffer because HC can't get their act together.
Then quickly reform the system.
He will be speaking with other agencies about the best approach to take to get action.
My comment to him was to make recommendations rather than just criticize. It could be an opportunity for the new Health Minister to show some leadership here
-and the recommendations must be done in public, with other agencies, and business leaders to make everyone understand the impact to patients, and the economy. It must be done publicly to make the public and government listen, as it will get buried if it is done privately only.
Recommendation.
1) if any recommendation involves funding, don't just say "HC needs more money", itemize them!
2) Get Ralph Klein involved!! Ralph's got some weight (not that weight, I saw him in the gym), a political Health agenda, and a lot to say about this whole area. |
