Evidence of meeting #42 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was doses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
I'm sorry, Ms. O'Connell, but I have to cut you off here. We're really running short on time.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Mr. Thériault, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.
1 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Lucas, Health Canada takes pains to point out that maintaining the interim order continues to make Canada an attractive place to conduct clinical trials. You therefore recognize the importance of clinical trials in ensuring that patients have access to treatment options.
What is true for COVID‑19 is also true for life-threatening or rare diseases, diseases like cancer or immune system dysfunctions. Do you agree with me?
1 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
Yes, Canada has an attractive clinical trial regime for all health products and has put in place special measures for an interim order for COVID-related products. We have embarked on a modernization of the clinical trials regime.
1 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
You aren't answering my question.
I don't know if the interpretation of what I said was correct or not.
1 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
I was asking you if what is true for COVID‑19 is also true for other life-threatening or rare diseases. Do you agree with me, yes or no?
1 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
Thank you.
I lost some time.
So what is it about this flexibility that would not be found in the guidelines of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, the PMPRB? Are you telling us indirectly that you did not control the price of drugs so that they are not excessive, as part of this relaxation? If not, how can the PMPRB reassure a patient with a rare disease? Is such a patient less important than a patient with COVID‑19?
Some say that your reform will result in fewer clinical trials.
1 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
Mr. Chair, I think the record shows that Canada is an attractive country for clinical trials. As I indicated, we have a very competitive regime. Special measures were put in place for COVID-related clinical trials, but otherwise, we have a competitive regime, which we are setting out to modernize. The government has invested through the budget $250 million to strengthen the clinical trials research. National networks have been established. These factors have led to the continued submission of clinical trials in Canada.
1 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
How can we be sure that you have really controlled the prices to avoid their being excessive, since we do not have access to the contracts?
1 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board has a series of tests and regulations in place. New ones were promulgated and are slated to come into force on July 1, 2021. Those elements pertaining to confidential rebates have been the subject of a court decision and will not be part of that package, as that is before the court.
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Thériault.
We will go now to Mr. Davies. We are very short on time.
You have two minutes and 30 seconds.
1 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you.
Dr. Lucas, on May 29, Health Canada announced that it was granting a one-month extension to the shelf life of AstraZeneca vaccines in Canada that were set to expire two days later, on May 31. Are you telling me that AstraZeneca supplied Health Canada with clinical data showing that they had control groups and non-control groups who had been administered AstraZeneca that had been expired for 30 days and AstraZeneca that had not expired, and that these studies showed no difference in efficacy or safety? Is that the data you were supplied with?
1 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
Mr. Chair, I would indicate that the data package pertained to the stability of the vaccines and other data that indicated their continued viability. They were reviewed in detail by the team of scientific reviewers at Health Canada, who rendered a decision through the independent regulatory function here at Health Canada.
1 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
I just find it odd that a maker of a drug happens to just spontaneously supply Health Canada with data saying that the label instructions on medication that it's going to expire no longer applies.
Did any other vaccine manufacturers do that?
1:05 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
Mr. Chair, to the best of my knowledge, that has not been the case with other vaccine manufacturers. In other health product areas, manufacturers do apply for an extension.
1:05 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
That's fine. I just want to know about vaccines, sir.
I want to move on.
The COVID-19 testing and screening expert advisory panel has recommended that Canada should have a system in place as soon as possible to validate proof of vaccination for arriving travellers.
Does the federal government intend to establish such a system? If so, can you confirm when it will be in place?
1:05 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
We are looking at options to respond to exactly the scenario you're talking about. Analysis and work is under way in that regard. No decisions have been taken at this time.
1:05 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Will Canada make a firm commitment to donate vaccine doses to low-income countries at this week's G7 summit?
1:05 p.m.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Consideration is being given to how best to support international vaccination. Obviously, it's a huge priority to ensure that the world is being vaccinated.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Davies.
Thank you to all of the members for all of the good questions. We are short of time.
Thank you to the witnesses once again for appearing before us. I know you're all frequent flyers and it's good to see you all. Thank you for the work you do on an ongoing basis to keep us all safe and secure.
I would like also to thank the interpreters. I know there's a lot of sickness in the ranks. I really do appreciate it. I apologize that we've gone over the time, but thank you for all for your ongoing work—as well as that of all of the House staff.
With that, we are now adjourned.