In terms of drug costs, there are two things: price and volume. On the issue of price, we're doing a bad job in terms of pricing, so we could reduce price. For that, basically a national formulary is the best tool to build bargaining power. In terms of volume, it's promoting a rational use of medicine. This is exactly what I mentioned with Australia, with the Netherlands, with the U.K., and with NICE, for example. These are the tools absolutely necessary in order to make sure.... There is an issue of under-prescription in Canada, there's an issue over-prescription, and there's an issue of misprescription as well, and we don't have any tools to act on these issues right now. A drug plan's purpose is not only to make sure that those who do not have access to the drugs they need will have access now, which is absolutely important, but it's also a way to promote more rational use of medicine, avoid over-prescription, and eliminate misprescription as well.
On October 19th, 2017. See this statement in context.