Thank you, Minister and officials, for being with us today.
Minister, I think a lot of people would be surprised to learn from your earlier remarks that it's been nearly 50 years since patient safety legislation has been significantly updated. This seems to be a worldwide phenomenon that there are great gaps in the information on safety and effectiveness of drugs used in real-world settings. More information is needed on the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceuticals when used by the diverse patient populations, and outside the controlled, experimental environment of clinical trials.
I was wondering if you would be able to elaborate for the committee on how Health Canada currently undertakes post-market surveillance activities. What kind of improvements are here in Bill C-17, in Vanessa's law?