Thank you for the opportunity.
We strongly disagree with any assessment or statement made about the impact of stronger intellectual property protection on the prices of medicines. It's been amply demonstrated. We will provide written testimony where we highlight data that has been produced over the last 15 years showing how intellectual property protections that go beyond international agreements, like the TRIPS agreement, have a negative impact on the prices of medicines.
There is ample evidence of the impact of those provisions on the Canadian health system. We have more evidence from the United States health system. The U.S. system is currently paying the highest prices in the world for medicines and new technologies. This is because it provides longer periods of monopoly protection for pharmaceutical companies.
We will be happy to provide data explaining that link between intellectual property and high charges. This has also been heavily demonstrated by the World Health Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the World Trade Organization. The three organizations with a mandate on intellectual property and health have all released different studies and analyses that show that link. We will be happy to provide that information.
When you look at the impact of the TPP in Canada, it is important to consider not only the national interests of Canada from the impact of the TPP on the Canadian health system, but also across the world. We will provide data that shows that it's not in the national interest of Canada to promote a trade agreement that will do little for innovation and do more to deepen the rising crisis of high prices around the world. This is not only an issue for developing countries, but a global issue.