Don Bell had a grandson who was three when he was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. It was a terminal illness for him. Don made it his case. There was a debate in the House. There was a motion put forward, but for him, it was a patient issue. Too often I find we develop national research policies, all these grandiose schemes, but at the end of the day, it's the patient who really cares and is really motivated.
People like Erin Little, people like Roy Vinke in my riding and people who really care about SMA are the ones who create these little foundations, and they start pushing pharmaceutical companies to do research. They find a diagnostics company. The diagnostics company for Alport syndrome happens to be in the United States. There's no lab in Canada that can do the test.
The role of the patient in this and patient-centred care, I feel, are lost when we start talking about big single-payer national pharmacare because it's going to be about rationing. Reducing costs can only happen through rationing when you have an expensive drug.
Can I hear your comment on that?