The concept of independence comes from the fact that it is a different group doing the follow-up on the medications after they are put on the market. Witnesses have told you that the MHPD was not well known and that people in the directorate should be told to look at medications differently. But there is collaboration and discussion.
Some witnesses have also said that there is room for independent research in Canada. A number of centres in Canada have expertise in this area. There are different ways to conduct independent research.
The MHPD, which was set up in 2002, had, as one of its goals, to allocate resources to the surveillance of drugs after they are put on the market so that they are tested again. This model has been proposed in the United States. I feel that Canada played a leadership role when it set up the MHPD.