House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
Supply November 23rd, 2004
Mr. Chair, obviously the hon. member is raising an interesting issue. I must admit that in my short time here I have not looked at the issue of the extension of the patent at all. I have focused on the evergreening issue and I have focused on the data protection issue. Those are issues I am working on.
I will in fact look at the issue the hon. member is raising. I have heard about it, but I have not been able to pay much attention to it, I must confess. I will look into it.
Supply November 23rd, 2004
Mr. Chair, obviously the member knows, having been here much longer than I have been, in the House and in the government, that it is very difficult to talk about budgetary issues as we go into the budget cycle for the coming fiscal year, but the department is looking at all of these issues.
I do know that the legislation is antiquated. I know that it is difficult to enforce. I know that we are looking at the renewal legislation. As part of that, this may be amended. I know it is being worked on.
I take the member's advice. I accept it very carefully and I will obviously be speaking to the department. We have the deputy minister sitting here with me and he will take note of that.
Supply November 23rd, 2004
Mr. Chair, I understand that Health Canada vigorously and rigorously enforces compliance on these issues. However, I think the hon. member is aware that we live next to a great big country that in fact allows direct to consumer marketing. When we watch television that is beamed into our homes from across the border, we are then obviously influenced by that advertising.
Direct to consumer advertising is not allowed within Canada. It is in fact highly regulated. We are looking at that and we are trying to address the issue but it may be difficult if not impossible to address in the short run.
Supply November 23rd, 2004
Mr. Chair, with respect to the earlier point the hon. member raised with respect to the registry of drugs, I will take her suggestion under advisement. I think it is an excellent suggestion. We will consider it. We do need an independent institution looking at some of these serious issues.
With respect to adverse drug reactions, I recognize that manufacturers and suppliers have an obligation and are mandated to report once they know of adverse drug reactions post-approval of the drugs. However, reporting by medical practitioners and consumers is of course voluntary. As I said a couple of times earlier, I am in favour of mandatory adverse drug reaction reporting.
I do recognize that there is the issue of online reporting and the lack of equipment or the appropriate mechanisms by at least 50% of the medical practitioners to report. I think that is an issue Health Canada needs to look at. I will also be taking a look at that issue because I believe we need stronger and better reporting of adverse drug reactions.
Supply November 23rd, 2004
Mr. Chair, I understand that CIHR, which is our premier research institute that does funding of about $752 million per year for all kinds of research across the country, has announced that it would have a registry of all the clinical trials in the country that it funds or for anybody else that might want to register with it.
I said some time ago shortly after I became the Minister of Health that I believe in full disclosure by all drug companies with respect to the clinical trials they engage in. I want to know the good, the bad and the ugly of the clinical trials before and as those drugs are approved for use in Canada, because it is important that with the exception of commercial interests and some other confidentiality interests we provide full disclosure to Canadians. It is in the interests of Canadians that they know the good, the bad and the ugly of all the clinical trials in Canada. I am in favour of toughening up on this issue.
Supply November 23rd, 2004
Mr. Chair, we did invest I believe over $190 million some time ago in this process of attempting to deal with the backlog. I understand that 80% of the backlog has been dealt with. I also understand that this money was invested in 2003 for the next five years in the amount of $190 million.
We are hoping that the drug approval process is shortened, that it is as robust as before if not more so, but shortened so that drugs can be accessed more quickly by Canadians who need them. It is very important that we balance the issue of access with the issue of safety. That is why, if we cannot do it any faster than 300 days for a particular drug, I would seek to be forgiven, because we need to make sure that there is also the balance of safety on the other hand in terms of use by Canadians.
Supply November 23rd, 2004
Mr. Chair, obviously I am no scientist and I cannot distinguish at this time between what particular part of the research money is going to what particular area.
I can say that there is $28 million from CIHR this year that is going into research on diabetes. I believe $5 million or $6 million of that is going into juvenile diabetes. Whether or not it is going to the specific issue raised by the hon. member, I am unable to say at this point.
Supply November 23rd, 2004
Mr. Chair, with respect to diabetes, if I omitted telling the hon. member, there is $28 million for research in diabetes in terms of funding from the CIHR, if that was the question the hon. member was asking.
Supply November 23rd, 2004
Mr. Chair, as I answered questions from another hon. member with respect to the fiscal issues in the coming year, the budget is not with us. Any Minister of Health hopes that money is always there and we will see when the budget comes what actually happens.
I do want to tell the hon. member that I agree with all of her comments with respect to the causes and the consequences of diabetes, both juvenile diabetes and the other diabetes. I was at an event just last weekend in Vancouver. The Juvenile Diabetes Association had a huge fundraiser. I have not been to my family doctor for a long time and my blood was tested in full view of the cameras and luckily my sugar level was just fine.
The hon. member makes a very good point. We all have to make sure that we deal with the issues appropriately. Health care is a priority. As the member knows, in the investments we make in the aboriginal communities as well, out of the $700 million agreed to between the first ministers and the aboriginal leaders, there is a significant amount that would be part of the upstream investments in issues such as suicide prevention and diabetes.
Supply November 23rd, 2004
Mr. Chair, it would be difficult for me to answer questions about approval of drugs, two different substances, without really talking to those who actually approve the drugs, or devices, if that is what the hon. member is talking about.
I would suggest to the hon. member that she remain in touch with my office. I would be happy to talk to her and tell her when we can expect to have that done.