Health committee  Under the pilot program that I mentioned, we did 36.

Health committee  That was 36 in one year of the pilot, in 2021-22, but since that time, we've done another 39, and we have 37 more planned between now and March 31.

Health committee  No. I'm sorry. We did 36 during the pilot. This year, we're hoping to do in and around 57. For the current structure we're in now, with no cost recovery, we would like to do even more.

Health committee  In our program right now—in different functions, not just inspections—there are approximately 22.

Health committee  How often do we do inspections?

Health committee  Right now, companies are not on a cycle. They don't get inspected every two years or three years. We are constantly doing inspections.

Health committee  We are not at this time. One of the reasons is.... As you say, we have heard, like you, a lot on this topic. On one side, including us as a regulator, as I say, our preference is for Canadians to use products and buy products that have been approved by Health Canada. However, we have another very vocal group within the country that is saying, “Maintain personal importation allowances,” and, “We want choice,” and, “If I choose to buy something from the United States or anywhere online, I want that choice.”

Health committee  I will try. I have two very quick things to say. We could not agree more. When a sector is inspected for the first time, the actual inspection provides an opportunity not only to assess but also to educate and promote compliance. Two, to help in that cause, we have worked and we continue to work with industry to produce guidance, such that industry has clarity and consistency on what Health Canada expects in order to meet regulatory requirements.

Health committee  We know that it is a possibility. What we prefer and what is clear in our messaging is that our preference is always for Canadians to use NHPs that have been vetted by the department, that are safe and that are efficacious. While we realize that what you're saying may be a possibility, we already have quite a robust presence at the border.

Health committee  As I mentioned earlier, inspections of NHPs and NHP entities have been growing at Health Canada for some time now. When the OAG report was released, we welcomed the opportunity to run an official GMP inspection pilot. For members who may not be aware, that is Health Canada inspectors entering companies and assessing companies against good manufacturing practices or standards.

Health committee  Over the last, I'm going to say, 15 years, what we've seen at Health Canada in terms of what we call postmarket oversight—inspection, in plain language—is a gradual ramp-up. In and around the time when the report that's being cited would have come out, there was little activity, and it was more reactive than proactive.