OTTAWA, October 23, 2020 – The Best Medicines Coalition, a national alliance of patient organizations, is raising concerns about the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) regulatory reforms, in light of today’s release of the PMPRB’s new Guidelines.
Patient organizations, including members of the Best Medicines Coalition, have urged caution regarding the government’s plans to proceed with drug pricing reforms as proposed. The Best Medicines Coalition fully supports regulations which improve affordability and brings prices in line with appropriate international comparators. However, and equally important, regulations must facilitate and not deter introductions of new medicines for Canadian patients. The impacts of these changes must be fully understood before they take effect, not after, the Best Medicines Coalition urges.
“At a time when we are collectively focused on a global pandemic, as well as when there are two active court cases on the government’s reform plans and indications that Canadian introductions of new drugs could be negatively impacted, it seems prudent for the government to pause moving forward, fully understand the impact of these policy changes and wait for the verdict of the courts,” says John Adams, Board Chair, Best Medicines Coalition. “There is early emerging evidence that applications for new drugs and for new clinical trials funded by drug developers have slowed down, and this is extremely concerning.”
The Best Medicines Coalition is carefully reviewing the new PMPRB Guidelines and following today’s release John Adams, Board Chair, Best Medicines Coalition, will be available for comment and interview opportunities (see contact information below).
About the Best Medicines Coalition
The Best Medicines Coalition is a national alliance of patient organizations with a shared goal of equitable and consistent access for all Canadians to safe and effective medicines that improve patient outcomes. The BMC’s areas of interest include drug approval, assessment, and reimbursement, as well as patient safety and supply issues. As an important aspect of its work, the BMC strives to ensure that Canadian patients have a voice and are meaningful participants in health policy development, specifically regarding pharmaceutical care.
For more information, please contact:
| John Adams Board Chair, Best Medicines Coalition john.adams@canpku.org 647-767-7991 |
Paulette Eddy Executive Director, Best Medicines Coalition paulette@bestmedicines.ca 416-917-3338 |