Ottawa, March 22, 2022 – Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) is encouraged by the Quebec budget’s emphasis on life sciences, healthcare, and innovation, following its release by Finance Minister Eric Girard earlier today.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that patients benefit when governments, industry, and other stakeholders work together to increase access to life-saving medicines and vaccines,” said Pamela Fralick, President of IMC. “Our members are committed to collaborating with the Quebec government to achieve the objectives of both the next Life Sciences Strategy and the new Research and Innovation Strategy, which we hope will drive innovation and increase access to new treatments and therapies for patients.”
IMC is also pleased with the increase in spending at the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) to respond to growing requests for scientific evaluations.
The innovative pharmaceutical industry contributes $5.1 billion per year to the Quebec economy and generates 38,000 high-quality jobs in the province. Forty-two per cent of IMC members’ headquarters are in Quebec, in addition to nearly 50 per of the country’s research & development jobs.
About Innovative Medicines Canada
Innovative Medicines Canada is the national association representing the voice of Canada’s innovative pharmaceutical industry. The association advocates for policies that enable the discovery, development, and delivery of innovative medicines and vaccines to improve the lives of all Canadians and supports the members’ commitment to being a valued partner in the Canadian healthcare system. The association represents 50 companies who invest nearly $1.2-billion in R&D annually, fuelling Canada’s knowledge-based economy, while contributing $8-billion to Canada’s economy. Guided by the Code of Ethical Practices, all members work with governments, private payers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders in a highly ethical manner.
