For several years, the CML Society of Canada has been engaging with the federal government of Canada and the members of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Price Review Board (PMPRB), regarding the much needed updates to the PMPRB guidelines (1) as well as the need for Canada’s Universal Healthcare to include pharmaceuticals. In fact, the Liberal party of Canada made a National Pharmacare program a priority of their platform and campaign. The Federal Liberal government announced a council to examine the need for a National Pharmacare program. this panel was chaired by Dr. Eric Hoskins, and in June 2019 he released his council’s report (2).
The PMPRB guideline review process allowed for input from all stakeholders, such as the Pharmaceutical Industry, Patient groups, Insurance industry, and third party Pharmaceutical Distributing companies. Unfortunately, there was disagreement between many of the stakeholders regarding various elements of the proposed new Guidelines. Certain elements of the proposed changes were even challenged in the Federal Court of Canada (3) as well as the Quebec Superior Court (4). We agree with the outcomes of both these legal proceedings, that essentially state that the PMPRB guidelines are constitutional, however, manufacturers should not be forced to reveal their rebate schemes. The majority of patient advocates agree that the basket of comparator countries (countries that Canada reviews drug pricing to ensure that Canadians are not overcharged) should be changed as per PMPRB new guidelines, as the new basket of countries are more in line with Canada’s Universal Healthcare system.
Innovative Medicines Canada, the lobbying group for the Pharmaceutical Industry in Canada mounted the most aggressive campaign against the guidelines – threatening to withhold new innovative medicines from being brought to the market if Canada allowed the new proposed PMPRB guidelines to come into affect as of January 1, 2021. In a last ditch effort they actualy offered a $1billion dollar bride to the federal health minister (5).
It is this particular campaign, led by Innovative Medicines, that we, as patients in Canada take strong objection to. The vast majority of research and discovery for these innovative medicines is. done with publicly funded taxpayer dollars in publicly funded institutions. We do not take the threat of withholding these medicines to Canadian citizens lightly. Unfortunately, these aggressive tactics seem to be working, the government of Canada has delayed the implementation, yet again, of the new guidelines to July 1, 2021.
In an effort to show our support to our federal government and their task of ensuring that all Canadians can access, equitable and sustainably priced innovative medicines, we are calling upon Canadian citizens, whether you are a patient or not, to consider joining us on a series of rotating INTERMITTENT FASTING programs. Why fasting? Because it shows that we are aware that many Canadians must make decisions about the food they eat in order to have enough money to pay for their expensive medicines.
During these rotating fasting campaigns we will be sending letters to our federal MP’s, Health Ministers, the Board of the PMPRB as well as our Prime Minister, Provincial Health Ministers and Provincial Premiers.
To participate in the Fasting for Pharmacare, please click on the link below.
References:
- https://www.canada.ca/en/patented-medicine-prices-review/services/legislation/about-guidelines.html
- https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/about-health-canada/public-engagement/external-advisory-bodies/implementation-national-pharmacare/final-report.html
- https://www.torys.com/insights/publications/2020/06/federal-court-on-amended-patented-medicines-regulations
- https://www.fasken.com/en/knowledge/2020/12/superior-court-of-quebec-rules-pmprb-regime/
- https://www.reuters.com/article/canada-pharmaceuticals/exclusive-drugmakers-offer-canada-c1-billion-to-scrap-some-pending-pricing-rules-idUSKBN27V0LO
