Ottawa, December 9, 2020 – Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) issued the following statement today regarding its recent letter to Canada’s First Ministers in advance of their meeting this Thursday with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:
“As the country responds to the second wave of the pandemic, the work of provincial and territorial governments, and the healthcare systems they are responsible for, is more important than ever before. Despite Canada’s innovative medicines industry being a critical partner in that work, the federal government is proceeding with regulatory measures that will have a direct, and negative impact on Canadian patients’ access to potentially life-saving medicines and vaccines, as well as on investments in provincial and territorial life sciences sectors. Fortunately, there is a better path forward.
“To that end, on December 7, Innovative Medicines Canada wrote to the First Ministers and requested their support in calling on the federal government to delay the coming-into-force of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board’s amended Regulations until after the pandemic. With a delay, we can all focus on fighting COVID-19 as our top priority, and create the time needed to chart a better path forward. Together, we can build on the solutions industry has proposed that put patients, the provinces and our life sciences sectors first.”
Read Innovative Medicines Canada’s letter to the First Ministers.
About Innovative Medicines Canada
Innovative Medicines Canada is the national voice of Canada’s innovative pharmaceutical industry. We advocate for policies that enable the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines and vaccines that improve the lives of all Canadians. We support our members’ commitment to being valued partners in the Canadian healthcare system.
