Health committee  You're right that a difference of 62% in one province and 15% in another seems horrific. It would be of great concern to me. I don't know that study; I do not have a copy. But I can tell you that in the past when we saw big discrepancies, we found that the numbers weren't counted

Health committee  My gut response is that I would be very surprised if there were a substantial difference between the Health Canada review and the decisions of other jurisdictions. The timing sometimes is due to the time the manufacturer applies. The manufacturer doesn't apply to Canada at exac

Health committee  I could respond. As somebody who was involved in that process, I can say there was no specific triggering event. Our current drug regulation process is based on the experience that came out of thalidomide. The latest round looking at post-marketing surveillance is from Vioxx. T

Health committee  Well, I would respond that the common drug review is doing the opposite. It's allowing us to share resources across the country. I think Dr. Sanders referred to the 18 different reviews that would have been undertaken prior to this, and now the resources are pooled, the experts a

Health committee  In answer to your question about whether British Columbians are aware of the different drugs that are available within each of the jurisdictions and whether, if I were in British Columbia, British Columbians are aware that a drug might be not available in British Columbia and wou

Health committee  I will actually say that part of it is similar to my response for other countries. I don't know the detail of how they go about their process, so in comparison I can't give you the answer. I can tell you that when experts look at the same literature there often are different view

Health committee  First, I really don't have a thorough understanding of the processes, of the way that other countries—I think you mentioned Sweden and perhaps others?

Health committee  I don't know what their process is for reviewing the evidence and the rigour that they apply. I can tell you, though, that I am extremely comfortable with the process that the common drug review applies. It is very similar to the process that British Columbia has applied and cont

Health committee  They have extremely good scientists. What I don't know is that they've applied the same rules of evidence as others have, and in particular ours.

Health committee  Not necessarily speaking directly, but I think it's important for the committee to recognize that the common drug review process doesn't differentiate drugs based on their country of origin. In fact, that information is sometimes very difficult for us to know. Recently, I found

Health committee  The national pharmaceuticals strategy was identified as part of the 2004 first ministers health accord, and the Premier of British Columbia committed to co-lead the provincial jurisdiction. Subsequent to that, the health ministers undertook to move forward with the national pharm

Health committee  Every province except Quebec is a participant as well as the federal government and the territories.

Health committee  No, I'm not.

Health committee  I don't know what example was being put forward. If that information were to become available, I'd be happy to respond.

Health committee  Actually, most of our review does not redo the work that the common drug review has done. They do a very thorough and wonderful job of reviewing and critically appraising the literature and then providing that information for the province. We do not redo that.