TORONTO, April 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A recent study published by the Canadian Health Policy Institute examined the availability and wait times for access to new drugs, accounting for product launches, marketing authorizations, and insurance coverage under publicly funded drug plans in Canada, Europe, and the United States. Data showed that Canada was a low priority market for new drug launches. The number of new drug applications submitted in Canada was only 54% of the number launched in the United States, and 62% of those launched in the European Union. Health Canada subsequently approv ..read more

..read more

..read more

..read more

Readers, I want to bring to your attention a recent example of the power of evidence based research to influence public policy thinking in Canada. CHPI was recently recognized as a leading source of evidence and advocacy on the issue of Canada’s drug supply by prominent media including Global News, CBC, and the Globe and Mail. The institute published two important empirical econometric studies on this topic in September 2019 (shown below). Both warned of the risks to Canada’s drug supply from cross-border re-sales to US customers of medicines meant for use by Canadian patients, and both predic ..read more

Readers, For the last 8 years, CHPJ has not raised its price above its introductory rate. From 2014 to 2019 a standard annual subscription to CHPJ cost $240. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in 2020 we reduced the price by 50% to $120. Inflation and other factors are driving the cost of business up, making price adjustments unavoidable. We are no longer able to offer CHPJ at a discounted price. Effective 24 JAN 2023 the price of a standard annual subscription to CHPJ will revert to the pre-pandemic level of $240 plus HST. This is the same as in 2014, which represents 0% inflation in our pric ..read more

Access to new medicines in Canada 2016-2021: Federal-provincial public drug programs and private sector drug plans CONTRIBUTORS Mark Rovere, PhD candidate, Canadian Health Policy Institute (CHPI) Brett Skinner, PhD, Canadian Health Policy Institute (CHPI) ATTRIBUTION This paper is corporately authored and edited based on proprietary template models and methods that are intended to facilitate regular updates. The design and content are a cumulative reflection of the diverse contributions collectively attributable to the CHPI affiliated researchers who may have variously participated in updatin ..read more

The PMPRB: Where Are We Now and What’s Next? Dara Jospé, JD/LLB, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin S.E.N.C.R.L., s.r.l., Montréal, Québec Mathieu Gagné LLD, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin S.E.N.C.R.L., s.r.l., Montréal, Québec ABSTRACT: There is a growing body of jurisprudence questioning the price control reasoning by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (“PMPRB”). It is therefore an optimal time to reflect on the status of the PMPRB’s jurisdiction and what’s next for patented medicine pricing in Canada. Since its establishment in 1987, the jurisdiction of the PMPRB has been in constant question and ..read more

Readers, As you know, CHPI is funded by sales of articles, subscriptions and memberships to our readers. This is important for our independence. We have not raised prices for over 10 years. In fact, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 CHPI reduced prices by 50% to facilitate public access to health policy related information. However, our organizational costs have increased since 2012. This requires us to adjust our prices. Effective July 11, 2022, article prices have returned to the pre-pandemic rate of $40. Effective September 1, 2022, subscription prices will increase 25% from the curren ..read more

By Nigel Rawson and Beth Vanstone A version of this article appeared in the Hamilton Spectator, Sept. 9, 2021 Canadians heard little from any political party in the recent federal election campaign about how they would improve access to innovative medicines that can provide effective therapy for previously untreatable diseases. The cost of these drugs is frequently beyond the average Canadian’s ability to pay and patients must look to private or public drug insurance for access. However, coverage is frequently unavailable because the time-consuming and adversarial processes for getting a ..read more