Position Statement National Pharmaceuticals Strategy
Approved November 21, 2006
HCCC Members
Alzheimer Society Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Canada (ALS) Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Canadian Cancer Society Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Canadian Diabetes Association Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association Canadian Lung Association Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Muscular Dystrophy Canada Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada Osteoporosis Canada Parkinson Society of Canada Schizophrenia Society of Canada Sick Kids Foundation The Arthritis Society The Foundation Fighting Blindness – Canada The Kidney Foundation of Canada
Contact: Deirdre Freiheit, Executive Director Health Charities Coalition of Canada Suite 1402, 222 Queen Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5V9 Tel: (613) 794-5677 Fax: (613) 569-3278
Background
The Health Charities Coalition of Canada is a collective voice that represents the majority of Canada’s leading national health charities. We are concerned with public policy and health research issues that affect the lives of Canadians.
HCCC National Pharmaceutical Strategy Position Statement Approved November 21, 2006
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We are committed to strengthening the health system and to increasing the voluntary sector’s ability to monitor and influence public policy. The HCCC ensures that Canadians’ concerns are heard by policy and decision makers. Access to pharmaceuticals is a key public policy priority identified by HCCC members who represent thousands of Canadians living with chronic and often life-threatening diseases. They depend heavily on drugs, devices and supplies to effectively manage their conditions, prevent further complications and disability and enhance their quality of life. HCCC members are concerned about the barriers created by differences in coverage, cost and access across Canada. In 2004, as part of the 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care, the First Ministers agreed to the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy (NPS)1. Our country’s leaders agreed that no Canadian should suffer undue financial hardship in accessing drug therapies they need, and that affordable access to drugs is fundamental to equitable health outcomes for all our citizens. The First Ministers directed their respective health ministers to establish a Ministerial Task Force to develop and implement the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy (NPS) and to report on its progress by June 30, 2006. In developing and implementing the NPS, the Ministerial Task Force was directed to: • •
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Develop, assess and cost options for catastrophic pharmaceutical coverage; Establish a common National Drug Formulary for participating jurisdictions based on safety and cost effectiveness; Accelerate access to breakthrough drugs for unmet health needs through improvements to the drug approval process; Strengthen evaluation of real-world drug safety and effectiveness; Pursue purchasing strategies to obtain best prices for Canadians for drugs and vaccines; Enhance action to influence the prescribing behaviour of health care professionals so that drugs are used only when needed and the right drug is used for the right problem; Broaden the practice of e-prescribing through accelerated development and deployment of the Electronic Health Record; Accelerate access to non-patented drugs and achieve international parity on prices of non-patented drugs; and Enhance analysis of cost drivers and cost-effectiveness, including best practices in drug plan policies.
The HCCC, as a service to its members, struck a Task Force to consider the implications of the NPS and articulate a position statement regarding a number of the nine specific actions referred to by the First Ministers. This statement is provided below.
Vision
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In its 2006 National Pharmaceuticals Strategy Progress Report, the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy Federal/Provincial/Territorial Task Force made the following statement: “As understood in both A 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care and Asymmetrical Federalism that Respect’s Quebec’s Jurisdiction, Québec is maintaining its own pharmacare program and, consequently, is not part of the development of this Strategy. However, Québec is open to sharing information and best practices.” In working toward the implementation of the NPS, the HCCC will work within the scope of this stated agreement.
HCCC National Pharmaceutical Strategy Position Statement Approved November 21, 2006
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Canadians have affordable access to safe and effective prescription drugs, devices and supplies that they need to live healthy lives regardless of where they live in Canada. To that end, the HCCC believes that the following principles should be incorporated into a National Pharmaceuticals Strategy:
Transparency
The process of developing, implementing, and evaluating the NPS will be visible and accessible to all Canadians and must respect Canadians’ right to make informed choices about their health needs. Inclusiveness The process must provide all interested Canadians opportunities for meaningful involvement in the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of the NPS. The federal government is responsible for ensuring all provinces and territories are able to participate fully and equitably in the NPS. Accountability The health, economic, and social outcomes of the NPS must be regularly reported to Canadians. Affordability The NPS must ensure safe and timely access for Canadians who need prescription drugs for their health, while at the same time ensuring the appropriate use of government funds. Equity The NPS must ensure that access to prescription drugs, devices and supplies does not depend on where Canadians live in our Country. Evidence-based The NPS must base its policies and decisions on the best available evidence and must ensure that Canadian experts who have been involved in developing evidence-based guidelines are included in the decision-making process.
HCCC National Pharmaceutical Strategy Position Statement Approved November 21, 2006
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People-centered The purpose of the NPS must be to increase Canadians’ ability to access the prescription drugs, devices and supplies they need to live healthy lives. The HCCC will continue to work with the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to ensure that this vision and these principles are integrated into the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy.
The Health Charities Coalition of Canada gratefully acknowledges the leadership and dedication of the HCCC National Pharmaceuticals Task Force in the development of this position paper. David Cameron, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society – Chair, NPS Task Force Janet Bick, Kidney Foundation of Canada Deanna Groetzinger, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada Karen Ormerod, Osteoporosis Society of Canada Karen Philp, Canadian Diabetes Association Kim Steele, Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Rosie Wartecker, Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada Deirdre Freiheit, Health Charities Coalition of Canada (ex-officio)
HCCC National Pharmaceutical Strategy Position Statement Approved November 21, 2006
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