Mr. Speaker, with regard to Group No. 2, the amendments put forward by the member for Windsor West, I want to repeat that the committee members worked really well together and the spirit of the House of Commons and the members working together has not diminished anything at all.
I want to talk a little about the importance of the schedule in this bill. The schedule deals with the list of medicines that we are recommending. This is a list of pre-approved products that can treat HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics. This list will be inspired by the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines. The WHO list provides a sound guide to the most efficacious, safe and cost effective medicines for priority conditions in a basic health care system.
The decision to include such a list represents a compromise solution between those who wanted a narrow list of eligible medicines and those who wanted no list at all.
Some have suggested that this list is meant to exclude certain products. This is not the case. It is a tool to expedite the process of acquiring a compulsory licence for those products that have been found to be safe, effective and of high quality. The list is not set in stone.
The government recognizes the need for some flexibility in order to meet future demands of importing countries. For this reason, there are provisions in the bill to allow for the adding of products as necessary.
I think the member for Windsor West alluded to the fact that during the committee's clause by clause study of the bill a number of amendments put forward by himself and the government were to add to that list of medicines. We thank the hon. member for doing that and bringing those medicines to our attention.
However I want to also stress that medicines obviously will be approved in Canada over the next number of months and years. I want to tell the House of Commons that the bill contains a provision that an advisory committee will be created that will be composed primarily of experts and medical health practitioners who will make the recommendations to the government in this regard. I should note that the government is all ready, as I proposed amendments to schedule 1.
This is only the start of the process and it is a great start in terms of telling the world that Canada is prepared to embark on providing cheap medicines to those most in need and ensuring that those medicines get to the people. We have added products and the member has suggested one.
I might mention to the member and to the House that we as a government are prepared to support Motions Nos. 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 20. I would like to say to the member that, unfortunately, at this point in time we cannot support Motion No. 14.
I only want to bring this to his attention, even though I gave him the assurance earlier this afternoon, that the fact that we are talking about this, the reference will be made immediately to Health Canada to look at these amendments a lot closer to ensure that these will be safe and will essentially do what the hon. member wants them to do.
For those who might be interested, let me explain why we cannot support Motions Nos. 14 and 18. Motion No. 14 deals with one therapy within a broad spectrum of antibiotic use to treat secondary bacterial infections. It is not necessary for the treatment of HIV, tuberculosis or malaria. This drug also does not figure on the WHO list of essential medicines and, therefore, it is not clear why this would be a preferred drug in this particular class.
As I said, the government cannot support that motion at this point in time but commits to referring the drug to the advisory committee at the earliest possible opportunity for its recommendation. I think I have already indicated the importance of that particular advisory committee.
With regard to Motion No. 18, it is also a broad spectrum antibiotic used to treat secondary bacterial infections. It is not necessary for the treatment of HIV, TB or malaria. This again does not figure into the list of essential medicines of the WHO.
We want to be clear. I think I indicated before that it is important for us to be very, very careful when we suggest that certain medicines be available, and be available for the purposes for which they are intended. As I indicated, while we can support all those other amendments, we cannot support Nos. 14 and 18. We will refer them to the advisory committee as quickly as possible so they can be added to the list once some due diligence has been done.
I again want to applaud and thank the member for Windsor West for providing us with the additional list of medicines, which we are happy to support and add to the schedule this evening.