Thank you for your question.
The issue of drug costs and whatnot has been in the works for some time now. As I'm sure you're well aware, each jurisdiction determines which drug will be publicly funded within their formularies. Health Canada approves the drugs and the jurisdictions determine whether or not they will cover them within their public system. Recently, jurisdictions have been collaborating--the Atlantic region and Ontario--on how to better coordinate bulk purchase of products. That work continues with each jurisdiction.
From the meetings we had in September, I can say that it is quite encouraging in terms of what the jurisdictions are doing to partner. It's quite innovative, in my view, to have provinces and territories collectively recognizing that there's a benefit to this, and they are continuing those discussions. As Health Canada, we also purchase drug programs for our direct responsibility, which is first nations health care delivery, so we are a partner to that discussion with jurisdictions as well.
Thank you.