Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I thank the witnesses for being here today.
We've had a lot of witnesses who are really putting forth one type of model, a monopolistic type of model, moving forward in Canada. I have had some challenges with the study we're doing because I don't see a lot of contrarian views, but I see you have brought up a few interesting points I would like to investigate a little further.
My first question would be to Dr. Lynd. My colleague asked if there's a system out there that is an example we could look towards. In Canada, we're trying to define who are the Canadians who are really having problems with it.
If you look across the world, you see the U.K. has put in a system that looks like more of a monopoly, but if you look at the results, there are certain restrictions on certain medications that are available in other parts of Europe. The U.K. has a worse cancer survival rate than these other countries. New Zealand has a monopolistic system. You actually see people from New Zealand moving to Australia just so they can get the drugs they need.
You mentioned that if we do put in a system like that, it really is going to affect choice. In other words, everybody gets it, or no one gets it. As a Canadian, if I pay into a system for years, and it comes to a point where I need medication—you're the expert here on rare diseases—would you say it's even fair if some bureaucrat is making the decision that I can't get these drugs covered under a system I paid into my whole life?