Photo © Pexels/Caleb Oquendo
Imagine a time when a loved one needed a new treatment that could make all the difference—a parent battling a chronic illness, a child with a rare condition, or a friend fighting cancer. In those moments, hope often hinges on the availability of the latest medical innovations.
However, in Canada, accessing these breakthrough treatments can be frustratingly slow. Despite our advanced healthcare system, delays in making new medications available are an additional burden during an already difficult time. These life-saving treatments must reach those who need them quickly and efficiently because no one should have to wait for hope. We must ensure new discoveries are within reach of Canadians.
Despite Canada’s status as a developed nation and pioneer of universal healthcare, red tape around regulatory processes is preventing patients and healthcare professionals from accessing the latest healthcare innovations in a timely manner. Right now, less than 20 per cent of new medicines launched globally are available on Canadian public plans.
It also takes, on average, more than two years following Health Canada approval for a given drug to be available to Canadians through public drug plans—that’s almost double the average time of access amongst Canada’s 20 OECD peer countries and places us last in the G7. As the federal government seeks to implement its approach to national pharmacare, provincial governments will consider the needs of patients in their health systems as a first priority. This is an opportunity to reduce red tape rather than adding more to an already complex system.
Why Access to Innovative Medicines Matters
Let’s start with the obvious: new drugs and treatments can be a patient’s last chance at life. A recent study in the Lancet tells us that new, targeted therapies can reduce mortality rates by up to 30 per cent for those with rare diseases and advanced-stage cancers. In other words, access to a new treatment could be a patient’s last hope if they have had little luck with conventional and current options.
On the other hand, according to PHAC, chronic diseases and other illnesses cost the Canadian economy $190 billion annually, including $122 billion in indirect income and productivity losses and $68 billion in direct healthcare costs. New treatments could radically decrease the number of hospitalizations that cause delays in our already stretched healthcare system and help Canadians get better and back to work sooner.
The economic contributions are significant, too. The latest statistics tell us that the innovative pharmacare industry is responsible for up to $3 billion in research and development, 103,000 high-quality full-time jobs, and $16 billion in yearly economic impact in Canada alone. We want to ensure Canadian innovation stays in Canada, too. Further supporting and adopting innovative technologies and treatments will improve healthcare outcomes for Canadian patients and encourage greater industry investment. To do this, we must collectively shift our focus toward collaboration and risk sharing. After all, this is a global competition where industry investments go to countries where the business environment is consistent and predictable.
The pandemic has proven how the critical needs of a society can accelerate approval mechanisms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen how a health crisis can reduce red tape overnight. Furthermore, understanding the significance of these advancements helps us appreciate why timely access to new treatments is so important. By supporting accelerated access to innovations, we are investing in the health and future of every Canadian while also investing in economic growth and jobs. Ensuring that new, effective treatments are available quickly can not only be a matter of life and death but also can reduce the burden of those with acute and chronic diseases, making our commitment to advancing medical science a shared priority for all.
The Path Forward
To become a global leader in innovative healthcare, Canada needs to implement policies that encourage a predictable and consistent business environment that will encourage private investment and foster innovation to support the development of new treatments. Premier Doug Ford has been a vocal advocate of improved access by reducing approval times for new medications, emphasizing the need for a streamlined process to benefit patients with the latest advancements in medical science. He has set the table for change and action. Now, it is the responsibility of systems leaders to act!
There is urgency to make impactful changes; the time to act is now. Canada must prioritize timely and equitable access to innovative treatments, ensuring that our healthcare system meets the needs of Canadians without delay. We can strengthen our healthcare systems, drive economic growth, and maintain our standing as a leader in discovery research. By embracing policies that support accelerated access to new medicines, we can provide hope to those who need it most and ensure that life-saving treatments are within reach—especially when it is someone’s only lifeline. The path forward is clear—let’s work together to make it a reality.
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Innovative Medicines Canada represents Canada’s innovative pharmaceutical industry. We help our members discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines and vaccines.