Ottawa, March 21, 2025 – With the imminent announcement of a federal election, Canadians have an opportunity to reflect on the future of our healthcare system, including ensuring that every patient has timely access to the medicines they need when they need them. Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) is committed to working with all political parties to advance policies that improve access to innovative medicines and protect personalized care.
Now is the time to consider a pharmacare strategy that strengthens coverage for under-insured and uninsured Canadians while maintaining flexibility and choice for patients and healthcare providers. IMC encourages policymakers to focus on filling coverage gaps, rather than making sweeping changes that could limit choice or delay the introduction of new medicines.
IMC believes that the current pharmacare path is not the most effective way forward for Canadians and could have unintended consequences. Instead of improving coverage where it is needed most, it may limit access to newer medications. This could mean that some patients, who already have effective treatments covered, might be forced to switch to older alternatives that do not meet their needs.
While intended to expand access, this one-size-fits-all approach actually risks doing the opposite: limiting options and disrupting care for millions of patients across the country. Any new framework should build on what already works, ensuring Canadians continue to benefit from a broad range of treatment options which are already provided through existing public and private plans, while addressing areas that need improvement.
Canada’s innovative pharmaceutical sector plays a vital role in delivering life-saving treatments to patients across the country. IMC looks forward to continuing to engage with all levels of government and political parties to ensure Canada’s healthcare system remains focused on the best patient outcomes.
About Innovative Medicines Canada
Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) is the national association representing Canada’s innovative pharmaceutical industry. The industry proudly supports over 100,000 high-value jobs, contributes a total of $16 billion to the economy, sponsors the majority of clinical trials in Canada, and invests close to $3 billion in research and development each year. IMC advocates for policies that enable the discovery, development, and delivery of innovative medicines and vaccines to improve the lives of all Canadians. The association and its members are committed to being solutions-oriented partners in Canada’s healthcare system and have contributed over $30 million towards applied health systems research through the Health Research Foundation (HRF). Guided by the Code of Ethical Practices, all members work with governments, private payers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders in a highly ethical manner.
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Media Relations
media@imc-mnc.ca
