Strengthening Canada’s Innovative Medicines Strategy: From Receptivity to Implementation
Follow-up Reflections for the Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Sector Task Force
Purpose of this Note
This note summarizes key reflections following a consultation with the Co-Chairs of Canada’s Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Sector Task Force. We appreciated the openness of the discussion and the clear indication that the Task Force is already thinking beyond narrow questions of drug approval and industrial competitiveness. In particular, it was encouraging to hear recognition of the need for better integration of data, improved coordination across systems, and a more coherent clinical trials environment.
At the same time, many of the themes raised — including integrated data, a single or streamlined clinical trials process, better coordination across jurisdictions, and more timely access to innovative medicines — have been discussed in Canada for many years. The challenge is not only identifying the right issues. The challenge is ensuring that the recommendations lead to concrete, measurable changes in how patients actually access medicines.
The purpose of this document is to reinforce the importance of moving from consensus to implementation, with particular attention to patient access, federal leadership, provincial and territorial delivery responsibilities, and accountability for results.
Read the full submission document here.