Patients Deserve Faster Access to Innovative New Medicines
This article originally appeared in the Toronto Star on September 30, 2023. Long wait times for new medicines in Canada, averaging two […]
Access to Medicine
Timely access to new medicines saves lives, improves health outcomes, helps reduce healthcare costs, contributes to economic productivity, and makes Canada a more attractive destination for future investment and innovation.
The Problem
Two years is too long.
Canadian patients wait two years for access to approved new medicines through public drug plans. Patients in most peer countries get access to approved new medicines over one year sooner than Canadians.
The Impact
Canadians, our health systems & our economy pay the price.
Delays in patient access to medicines lead to:
- Fewer life sciences investments, clinical trials, and drug launches;
- Increased strain on health systems and health human resources; and
- A missed opportunity to increase quality of life and improve health outcomes for Canadians.
The Opportunity
Faster access for all.
There are two immediate actions provincial and territorial governments can take to get Canadians much faster access to new medicines.
- Eliminate the 119-day delay between CADTH and pCPA.
- Commit to listing new medicines on public drug plans within 30 days of a completed pCPA negotiation.
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Stay Informed
Latest news and resources.
Keep your finger on the pulse of Access to Medicine developments in Canada – explore our curated selection of the latest news and resources.
NEWS
Statement by IMC, AMIIF and PhRMA on Promoting Ethics and Business Integrity in Healthcare
As representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, we strongly support and are active leaders in the Business Ethics for APEC SMEs Initiative, the world’s largest public-private partnership to strengthen ethical business practices in the biopharmaceutical sector.
IMC calls on Canada’s premiers to improve patient access to medicines
Ottawa, July 5, 2023 – Health care remains top of mind heading into the Council of the Federation Summer Meeting […]
Access to Medicine
Cost Drivers Report 2023
Annual cost growth in Canada’s private drug benefit market is driven by increased utilization and chronic disease drugs, with an increase in claimants post‑pandemic.
Read the full report.
Two years is too long – Understanding Canada’s Drug Access Pathway
Canadians wait two years for access to new medicines through our public drug plans. That’s a full year longer than patients in most other peer countries. Two years can feel like a lifetime for a patient waiting for access to life-saving medicines or treatments.
Value of Medicines in Canada
This study examines and quantifies the value of innovative treatments in Canada to patient lives, the healthcare system and to society. Case studies include: HPV vaccines, Melanoma treatments, treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hepatitis C.
Developing a Canadian managed entry approach for new innovation: What can Canada learn from Europe?
Many new therapies coming to the market are not well served by the traditional drug reimbursement approaches currently employed by Canada’s public plans. A growing number of European regulatory authorities have been using novel managed entry agreements (MEA) and innovative access agreements (IAA) to accelerate approval times and improve availability to patients.
Clinical Trials in Canada
The innovative pharmaceutical industry has sponsored over two-thirds of clinical trials initiated in Canada in the last 5 years and contributed over $15 billion to the Canadian economy annually.
Innovative Access Arrangements and Managed Entry
A growing number of payers in many countries are looking to managed entry agreements (MEAs) and other innovative access arrangements (IAAs) to allow rapid access to medicines that address significant unmet needs.
Newsroom
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