Health committee  As President Namiesniowski noted, we are working with health officials in the provinces and territories to assess the full capacity available of key assets, including ICU beds, ventilators and other essential assets, to work with them to ensure we have an understanding of their u

Health committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to the committee today about Health Canada's role in the government's response to COVID-19. I'll just start by echoing the comments that President Namiesniowski concluded with in terms of the critical importance of us

Health committee  Obviously, a lot of attention is being paid now on addressing coronavirus, but the government is intent on moving forward with that in the coming weeks and months.

Health committee  The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board launched consultations on the guidelines in the late fall. They did extend the period until mid-February. They are working with that feedback and have been engaging with industry, patient groups and others to ensure the guidelines reflect

Health committee  The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board is reviewing the input they've received and are committed to continuing to engage to ensure the guidelines can move forward to enable the regulations to come in.

Health committee  That is the coming into force the government had set, and the engagement process on the regulations has been open and transparent and will continue with the feedback received.

Health committee  No. We'll follow the process that has been followed for decades in terms of assessing on provincial user fees, making deductions and then working with them to bring them into compliance and, under the reimbursement policy, if they do achieve that, reimburse their deductions.

Health committee  It will follow the process we have in terms of the Canada Health Act, where provinces provide reports that we assess and, on that basis, make deductions and, if they change their policies, reimburse them. That approach is codified.

Health committee  This is an area Health Canada is actively monitoring through our regulatory function to ensure the safety of the blood supply through work with Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec. If we need to turn to other donors to increase that, those efforts will be taken, but it is an

Health committee  Again, we rely on the operators of the blood system. We are in communication with them in terms of their monitoring, and they will take the actions and will ensure the safety of the blood supply.

Health committee  I will contribute as well that we are working specifically with the Canadian Institute for Health Information to help strengthen that information, which will support the initiatives the minister spoke to.