Posted At Newswire
OTTAWA, June 29 /CNW Telbec/ - Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh today announced that the Government of Canada will introduce measures to ensure Canadians continue to have access to an adequate supply of safe and affordable prescription drugs. The Minister will continue to consult and seek the advice of key stakeholders on the initiatives he is announcing today.
"In light of potential American legislation legalizing the bulk import of Canadian prescription and other medications, our priority must be the health and safety of all Canadians and the strength of our health care system," said Minister Dosanjh. "We must be proactive in making sure that the supply of affordable prescription medications remains stable and sufficient to meet the needs of Canadians."
Minister Dosanjh is announcing a series of initiatives, including legislative and regulatory changes, to protect the supply and safety of Canada's drugs, beginning with the establishment of a drug supply network which will be housed in Health Canada. Working with the provinces and territories and stakeholders, the network will provide Health Canada with more comprehensive data on Canada's prescription drug supply.
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting Canada's drug supply by strengthening its capacity to prohibit the export of Canadian drugs if and when necessary. Accordingly, Minister Dosanjh intends to bring forward enabling legislation under the Food and Drugs Act that will allow the Government of Canada to prohibit the bulk export of prescription and other needed drugs when it is necessary to protect the health of Canadians.
Cross-border drug sales often involve prescribing practices in which there is no clear patient-practitioner relationship. This practice has been deemed unethical by medical / pharmacy regulatory bodies. The Minister has noted with satisfaction the efforts of these bodies to enforce ethical prescribing standards. In order to ensure the safety of consumers in all transactions related to prescribed medications, Minister Dosanjh is proposing to strengthen existing federal regulations under the Food and Drugs Act governing the sale of prescription drugs in Canada to require an established patient-practitioner relationship.
Minister Dosanjh expressed his appreciation to parliamentarians for their ongoing engagement on the issue of cross border drugs sales. "My Caucus colleagues Don Boudria, Wajid Khan and Marlene Jennings have been especially energetic in advocating the measures I am announcing today," said Minister Dosanjh. "And I also appreciate the ideas and input of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health."
