FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MPs’ report is a good start

but timeliness still needs fixing

Attention: Parliamentary Press Gallery/Assignment/Health Editors

OTTAWA (Dec. 12/2007) – A report prepared by federal Members of Parliament on the Common Drug Review is "a good start" toward necessary reforms, Louise Binder, chair of the Best Medicines Coalition (BMC), said today.

Binder said she was pleased to see that members of the Standing Committee on Health have taken steps to address the serious concerns expressed by patients at hearings held earlier this year.

The BMC, along with other patient groups, have identified some significant flaws regarding the CDR, including a lack of transparency, lack of consumer involvement, lack of timeliness and duplication of process.

The BMC was particularly gratified that the report underscored the need for transparency and frequent performance review and the need to have pharmaceutical treatments reviewed in a timely manner.

Binder expressed concern that the committee did not provide more specific recommendations on improving timeliness.

"We urge the government to give this report immediate consideration and to begin a process of implementation, while understanding that this is not a complete solution to problems associated with the CDR," she said.

"Following implementation we expect thorough and regular reviews of the CDR, in consultations with patients and other stakeholders."

The BMC also agreed generally with the direction of several recommendations of the committee, including:

• An independent performance evaluation of the CDR within a year, and at five-year intervals. Those evaluation reports should be made public immediately.
• Public involvement in the CDR should be increased through public attendance at open CEDAC meetings and creation of a public advisory body.
• An appeal process for CEDAC recommendations that will require a separate group of expert reviewers, extend requests for appeal beyond manufacturers to the public and establish a clear timeframe for an appeal decision.

Binder joined the MPs in urging consideration of a specifically designed approach for the review of drugs for rare disorders. Binder also agreed first-in-class drugs require a priority review approach.

The BMC is a national alliance of organizations and individuals formed in 2002 to represent Canadians living with chronic diseases or illness and work for a drug review process that puts patients and treatment access first over process.