Thank you, Madam Chair.
I also want to thank the witnesses for your wonderful presentations and for taking the time to be here with us today.
I'd just like to mention one thing for the record. My colleague, Mr. Lizon, pointed this out. One of the members of the NDP yesterday issued a press release claiming that the Minister of Health had not responded to the letter or the request that was made by Dr. Chisholm and his organization. I'd like to quote from that release: “Despite the warnings, Conservatives refused to act – or even respond [to] the letter from the Anesthesiologists Society.”
I'd like to thank Dr. Chisholm for clarifying for the benefit of the committee the fact that the minister had responded to the correspondence on September 7, 2011.
I have a question for Dr. Chisholm. Health Canada is speeding the review of more than 35 submissions for the additional supply of drugs. It has also fast-tracked approvals of replacement drugs, including at least one used in anesthesia. How will this replacement drug help patients?