Health committee  The current policy is that we want all Canadians to be able to access necessary prescription medications. You're asking about what we see as the actual funding model for that. We have recommended that there be a federal sharing of that cost and we've actually costed it out through a study with the Conference Board of Canada, looking at it from the point of view of no individual having to pay more than $1,500 a year or 3% of their annual earnings.

Health committee  Excuse me, but I'm just going to ask whether Owen...because this is something he can—

Health committee  No, we would not be opposed to that, if that was your question. That was a long answer, then.

Health committee  Could you just restate that for me? I just want to be clear that I'm answering the right question.

Health committee  I think there are a couple of issues mixed in there. With regard to prescription drug abuse, we're often referring to the opioid narcotic issue. That was a focus of our annual meeting last year in Halifax at which physicians came together to explore that issue from all sides, looking at it from the patient's point of view, from the physician's point of view, and from the addiction specialists' point of view.

Health committee  Thank you for that question. It's certainly an issue that is talked about in many different forums and formats in the medical profession. I can think of a reference to some of the work we've done around senior care, and in our document on a senior strategy, we do talk about de-prescribing and some of the issues around polypharmacy.

Health committee  We haven't specifically singled out rare diseases and the drugs for them. From a patient's point of view, the issues are similar whether they have a rare disease or they have a chronic disease that is more common. We really see that patients shouldn't have to make the choice between the basic necessities of life and their medications, and that a cost-sharing program with the federal government would be one way of ensuring that no one person or one family is devastated by their illness and the costs of their medications.

Health committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. On behalf of the Canadian Medical Association and our over 83,000 physician members, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before the committee as part of its study on the development of a national pharmacare program. My name is Dr. Cindy Forbes. I'm a family physician from Nova Scotia and president of the Canadian Medical Association.

Justice committee  I want to also echo those comments. I can honestly say the most common question I get from my colleagues who know that I've been involved at this level is, do you know who's going to provide the service? They may be willing to refer, but at this point in time they have no idea how, and as Dr.

Justice committee  The whole issue around assisting a patient to die is an issue of compassion, for society to be compassionate to people in this situation, and certainly for any physician willing to participate. It is of highest concern that patients not be unduly suffering. However, this is being weighed against safeguards to make sure there is sufficient time for sober second thought.

Justice committee  I think that as long as there is a provision.... Our original document did suggest two weeks, but we also suggested that in the case where the prognosis was much graver, much shorter, there be some flexibility. I think Bill C-14 actually does provide that.

Justice committee  Thank you.

Justice committee  That is certainly a question that has been asked. It does say at least 15 clear days, which allows for a longer period of time, if that is appropriate. However, there is some wording around the fact that if the prognosis is felt to be shorter than that, there would be some special arrangements there.

Justice committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. As you mentioned, I'm Dr. Cindy Forbes, president of the Canadian Medical Association. I'm also a family physician from Nova Scotia. I'm joined today by Dr. Jeff Blackmer, vice-president of medical professionalism. Dr. Blackmer has led the CMA's work on medical assistance in dying.

Finance committee  If I understand your question, you're asking me if we have some sort of cost analysis of what is being saved by funding the.... I think the answer to that is no, but there is definitely a cost to patients not filling their prescriptions and not treating their diseases, whether it be diabetes or heart disease.