Timely access to new medicines saves lives, improves health outcomes, reduces pressure on the healthcare system, boosts economic productivity, and helps make Canada a more attractive destination for future investment and innovation.
Canadian patients wait an average of two years for access to approved new medicines through public drug plans. In most peer countries, patients gain access to approved new medicines more than a year sooner.
Delays in patient access to medicines lead to:
Provincial and territorial governments can take two immediate steps to significantly reduce delays:
Cervical cancer affects approximately 1,400 women in Canada annually
Approximately 9,000 Canadians are diagnosed with melanoma annually
Approximately 460,000 Canadians live with RA
Hepatitis C affects approximately 11,000 Canadians each year
Explore the latest developments related to access to medicine in Canada.
Ottawa, September 3, 2026 – Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) welcomes Deloitte Canada’s report showing the innovative pharmaceutical industry is a strategically important sector for Canada’s economic growth and productivity. According to […]
Ottawa, July 24, 2026 – Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) acknowledges today’s publication of the Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Sector Task […]
Ottawa, July 23, 2026 – Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) welcomes today’s call from Canada’s Premiers, issued at the Council of […]
This summary of a study by Deloitte combines a traditional economic impact analysis with targeted assessments of health system impacts […]
Written Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2026-2027 New Brunswick Budget
Written Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2026 Newfoundland and Labrador Budget
Breaking down key developments in the life sciences sector for members, policy influencers, and Canadians.
Learn how our member companies, which range from early-stage startups to established organizations, are advancing healthcare through the discovery and development of new medicines and vaccines.
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