Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Minister, officials, we do appreciate very much your time today in appearing before this committee.
Minister, access to new, innovative medicines and medical devices is one of the key elements that underlies a strong health care system. For years Health Canada has been the subject of intense criticism for the length of time required for drug and device product reviews. The chief complaint is that there's a huge backlog in terms of the number of drugs and devices put forward for approval and the amount of time it takes to get those approvals.
I'm wondering what the government is doing to ensure that access to medicines improves. Does Health Canada currently have a more timely regulatory process for drug approvals, and has the level of Canadian research in pharmaceuticals increased in the last few years?
I know this is of significant concern to the pharmaceutical industry, but it's also of significant concern to physicians, and to patients who are looking to get, in a timely fashion, treatments that are going to help them live happier, healthier lives.