Ottawa, ON – Following the resignation of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board’s (PMPRB) Acting Chairperson last week, Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) calls for the suspension of the implementation of the PMPRB’s revised draft Guidelines to ensure meaningful stakeholder consultation and a thorough impact analysis are undertaken.
The PMPRB’s Board of Directors has been without a Chair since November 2021. With the recent departure of the PMPRB’s Acting Chair, it is unclear how the Board can proceed with the review and consideration of multiple submissions, potential modifications and changes, and the implementation of new Guidelines by January 2023.
Unless significantly amended, the proposed Guidelines will further decrease access to new medicines, treatments, and clinical trials for Canadians, and will undermine the success of other government priorities such as the National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases and the Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy.
Given the extent and consequences of the revised draft Guidelines, IMC believes that implementation should only occur after meaningful consultation with stakeholders and a whole-of-government process that considers the significant health and economic impact of the proposed changes.
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 $1.4 billion in R&D annually, fueling 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.
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For further information:
Marise Varanda
Director, Media Relations & Content
Telephone: 613-462-5367
E-mail: media@imc-mnc.ca
