Question Period Note: Breast Implant Registry

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KEY MESSAGES
• Breast implant registries are typically used to record the details of individuals who have undergone breast implant surgery, so that they can be traced in the event of safety concerns relating to a specific type of implant.
• Federal, provincial and territorial officials are working together, through a Health Canada led committee, to explore key issues, like privacy, data collection and governance, which are foundational to implementation of a national breast implant registry.
• Health Canada continues to publish information for Canadians and health professionals on breast implants to support discussions between people seeking breast implants and their physicians.
IF PRESSED
Q1 : If pressed on establishing a breast implant registry
A1 :
• The Government recognizes the need to identify concrete solutions for the safety concerns related to breast implants and for the development and implementation of a national breast implant registry for Canada.
• Implementing a breast implant registry for Canada is complex and needs to fully consider issues like data standards, collection and privacy, while respecting jurisdictional responsibilities.
• Health Canada already has a strong post-market surveillance system, mandatory reporting for incidents, and an established recall system.
Q2: If pressed on how FPT governments are working together to establish a breast implant registry
A2:
• Health Canada established a committee in December 2024 and is working with provincial and territorial officials on these issues and will continue to explore opportunities to strengthen breast implant oversight in Canada.
• Nine PTs (BC, AB, SK, ON, NB, NS, PEI, NL with QC as an observer) are participating in this committee, which has met three times.
• Health Canada is also exploring opportunities to engage partners beyond FPT governments, to leverage external expertise and international best practices.
Q3 : If pressed on the complexities of establishing a registry
A3:
• Creating a registry is complex and requires careful attention to issues like privacy, challenges in sharing and collecting health information (including from private clinics that operate outside the public health system), ethical and consent requirements, governance and securing long-term funding needed to maintain a registry.
Q4 : If pressed on breast implant illness
A4 :
· Health Canada performed a scientific, evidence-based review of breast implant illness, which is a term used to describe a variety of symptoms associated with breast implants.
· Based on the information available, it was not possible to determine whether there is a direct relationship between breast implants and these symptoms and diseases.
· In August 2024, Health Canada published the findings of the review and communicated the associated publications to stakeholders and through social media.

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KEY Stats
• It is estimated that roughly 2-4% of adult women in Western countries have received breast implants.
• As the majority of breast implant surgeries are performed outside of the publicly funded health system, health data collection is particularly challenging and complex.