Question Period Notes
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Guided by the recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare, the Government of Canada announced concrete steps as part of Budget 2019 toward the implementation of national pharmacare. These include the creation of a Canada Drug Agency, taking steps toward the development of a national formulary, and creating a national strategy for high-cost drugs for rare diseases.
In August 2019, the Government of Canada also announced the final amendments to the Patented Medicines Regulations. The most significant reforms to the regulations since their introduction in 1987, these amendments lay the groundwork for national pharmacare by giving the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board the tools to protect Canadians from excessive prices and making patented medicines more affordable.
• When does the Government intend to implement a national pharmacare program?
On August 9, 2019, the Government of Canada announced amendments to the Patented Medicines Regulations to provide the PMPRB with the tools and information needed to protect Canadians from excessive medicine prices.
These amendments will result in lower prices for patented medicines in Canada, which are currently among the highest in the world. It is estimated that the amendments will result in savings for governments and private payers of approximately $13.2 billion over 10 years.
The brand-name pharmaceutical industry and some patient groups have expressed concerns that the amendments could result in reduced pharmaceutical investments and reduced access to medicines. On November 21, 2019, the PMPRB launched consultations on draft guidelines to operationalize the amendments.
• Will the amendments to the Patented Medicines Regulations reduce access to new medicines in Canada?
In April 2019, Health Canada completed a safety review of the risk of breast implant associated-anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). Health Canada noted a significant increased risk of this type of cancer associated with macro-textured breast implants.
In May 2019, Health Canada informed Allergan of the decision to suspend the medical device licences of Biocell breast implants (the only macro-textured breast implants on the Canadian market). All Biocell products were voluntarily recalled from the market. Since then, other regulators have proposed or taken similar action. In July 2019, Allergan announced a voluntary worldwide recall of Biocell breast implants and tissue expanders.
Health Canada continues to monitor the situation closely and to make information available to Canadians, including through website updates and directly through meetings with patient groups. Health Canada also continues to work with its international regulatory partners on the safety of breast implants.
• What is the Government doing to protect the health and safety of Canadians in regard to monitoring the safety of breast implants?
Since the December 2018 release of the Medical Devices Action Plan, Health Canada has made significant progress on strengthening the regulation of medical devices in Canada.
• What is the Government doing to protect Canadians’ health and safety with respect to medical devices?
The Francophone community in Ontario is Canada's largest French-speaking community outside Quebec. To date, through the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023, the Government has approved $98 million for activities that support the development of the Francophone minority community in Ontario. The Government also promotes bilingualism and second language learning in Ontario through various other funding opportunities, including arts, culture and employment.