Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18010

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Anis AH.
Pharmaceutical policies in Canada: another example of federal-provincial discord.
CMAJ 2000 Feb 22; 162:(4):523-6
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/162/4/523

Abstract:

Pharmaceutical policy in Canada is set at both the federal and provincial levels of government. The federal government is responsible for intellectual property rights of manufacturers (patents) and the initial approval and labelling of prescription drugs and for ensuring overall market competitiveness. The provincial government has responsibility and jurisdiction over the funding of all health care services, including pharmaceuticals. Various interactions between the pharmaceutical industry, the federal and provincial governments and consumers have shaped the current landscape for prescription drugs in Canada. One key failing of the system is that the federal government is almost completely insulated from the impact of its policies because, although it regulates drug prices, it does not buy any drugs. In contrast, provincial governments have no jurisdiction over market competitiveness or pricing, yet end up paying for most of the drug expenditures incurred.

Keywords:
* Canada * Cost-Benefit Analysis * Drug Approval/legislation & jurisprudence * Drug Costs/legislation & jurisprudence * Drug Prescriptions*/economics * Economic Competition * Government * Health Expenditures/legislation & jurisprudence * Health Policy* * Humans * Patents as Topic/legislation & jurisprudence * State Government