Private Members' Business ·
Food and Drugs Act
In response to a question from Burton Bailey
“The Bloc Québécois supports this bill. It helps very sick patients get life-saving drugs faster when other treatments have failed. But the government must work with Quebec and the provinces, because they run healthcare and pay for drugs. We also want to make sure these drugs do not cost too much for regular people.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to speak today on Bill C-265. It is worth emphasizing that the intention behind this bill is a very noble one. Facilitating access to therapeutic products for patients seeking access to innovative drugs or therapies when that is their only remaining option is a highly commendable objective, it must be said. I would like to point out that many members, like myself, have probably, at one time or another in their careers, received letters from patients who wanted access to a drug that is not available in Canada but is available elsewhere in the world. I am sure that all my colleagues also understand that everyone wants to have access to the best treatment when they are fighting for their lives. For this reason, the Bloc Québécois will be supporting my colleague’s bill. The bill will streamline applications submitted under Health Canada’s special access program. Creating a list of pre-approved drugs will make it easier to process applications. This program allows a physician or dentist to request access to a drug that is not available for sale in Canada. To qualify, certain criteria must be met. First, the drug must be requested in an emergency situation, in other words for someone suffering from a serious or life-threatening illness. This program is a last resort, since it means that all other attempts have failed and that the medication is not available in Canada. The manufacturer sets the cost of the drug. In some cases, it may be offered free of charge, but it is possible that certain costs might have to be borne by hospitals, public or private insurers, or even, in some cases, by patients or their families. Applications submitted under the SAP are reviewed based on a variety of criteria, including the level of urgency, available alternatives, medical history, and evidence of the new drug’s safety and efficacy. The bill would streamline the processing of these applications, as the list of approved drugs would reduce the administrative burden associated with assessing the safety and efficacy of a new drug. In theory, this would help reduce processing times. However, we have some concerns regarding the effects of this bill. First, Quebec and the provinces are not included in this initiative. That is what I pointed out to my colleague in my question earlier. As everyone knows, they are the ones that run our health care systems, especially our drug insurance programs. For access to these drugs to become a reality, it is imperative that Quebec and the provinces be consulted so that they can harmonize their systems. Otherwise, only the wealthiest individuals will be able to access drugs, which runs counter to a fundamental principle at the heart of the Canada Health Act: the principle of accessibility. We would like to know whether the sponsor of the bill considers the current cost provisions in the SAP to be sufficient. This is certainly something that can also be looked at in committee. Quebec already has a program that allows patients, under specific conditions, to access drugs not covered by the Régie de l’assurance-maladie du Québec. It is known as the exceptional medications and exceptional patient program. It does not provide access to drugs that are not marketed in Canada, but it does provide access to drugs that are not on the list of insurable drugs. The bill would therefore not interfere with Quebec’s programs. We still want Quebec and the provinces to be consulted, because it is the hospitals and doctors in the provinces who will have to navigate this program. As for the procedures for adding drugs to the list, we will need to address ethical questions surrounding the creation of the advisory committee and the application process. To that end, the Bloc Québécois will take the time to consult with experts and stakeholders during the committee review of the bill. We will therefore wait until the committee stage to decide on the next steps.”
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to speak today on Bill C-265. It is worth emphasizing that the intention behind this bill is a very noble one. Facilitating access to therapeutic products for patients seeking access to innovative drugs or therapies when that is their only remaining option is a highly commendable objective, it must be said. I would like to point out that many members, like myself, have probably, at one time or another in their careers, received letters from patients who wanted access to a drug that is not available in Canada but is available elsewhere in the world. I am sure that all my colleagues also understand that everyone wants to have access to the best treatment when they are fighting for their lives. For this reason, the Bloc Québécois will be supporting my colleague’s bill. The bill will streamline applications submitted under Health Canada’s special access program. Creating a list of pre-approved drugs will make it easier to process applications. This program allows a physician or dentist to request access to a drug that is not available for sale in Canada. To qualify, certain criteria must be met. First, the drug must be requested in an emergency situation, in other words for someone suffering from a serious or life-threatening illness. This program is a last resort, since it means that all other attempts have failed and that the medication is not available in Canada. The manufacturer sets the cost of the drug. In some cases, it may be offered free of charge, but it is possible that certain costs might have to be borne by hospitals, public or private insurers, or even, in some cases, by patients or their families. Applications submitted under the SAP are reviewed based on a variety of criteria, including the level of urgency, available alternatives, medical history, and evidence of the new drug’s safety and efficacy. The bill would streamline the processing of these applications, as the list of approved drugs would reduce the administrative burden associated with assessing the safety and efficacy of a new drug. In theory, this would help reduce processing times. However, we have some concerns regarding the effects of this bill. First, Quebec and the provinces are not included in this initiative. That is what I pointed out to my colleague in my question earlier. As everyone knows, they are the ones that run our health care systems, especially our drug insurance programs. For access to these drugs to become a reality, it is imperative that Quebec and the provinces be consulted so that they can harmonize their systems. Otherwise, only the wealthiest individuals will be able to access drugs, which runs counter to a fundamental principle at the heart of the Canada Health Act: the principle of accessibility. We would like to know whether the sponsor of the bill considers the current cost provisions in the SAP to be sufficient. This is certainly something that can also be looked at in committee. Quebec already has a program that allows patients, under specific conditions, to access drugs not covered by the Régie de l’assurance-maladie du Québec. It is known as the exceptional medications and exceptional patient program. It does not provide access to drugs that are not marketed in Canada, but it does provide access to drugs that are not on the list of insurable drugs. The bill would therefore not interfere with Quebec’s programs. We still want Quebec and the provinces to be consulted, because it is the hospitals and doctors in the provinces who will have to navigate this program. As for the procedures for adding drugs to the list, we will need to address ethical questions surrounding the creation of the advisory committee and the application process. To that end, the Bloc Québécois will take the time to consult with experts and stakeholders during the committee review of the bill. We will therefore wait until the committee stage to decide on the next steps.