Access to Medications

In March this year the federal government introduced A Patient Guide for Reporting Side Effects from Health Products. Reporting by both consumers and physicians will help ensure the safety of the drugs approved for consumption in Canada in “real world” conditions. Latest advisories, recalls and warnings are also included on the MedEffect website.

One of the most frequent questions that I get asked by my patients who are about to start Methotrexate is: “What about alcohol”.

When a patent expires on a brand name medication, other companies may manufacture the active medicine but generally will not have access to the complete formula that makes the original brand name product. Generic drugs don't always deliver what the original drugs deliver.

Bill C51 almost moved through the parliamentary process unobserved by the majority of Canadians. That ended with Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s public announcement and the ensuing debate regarding the inclusion of Natural Health Products in the Bill.

CAPA’s commitment to raising awareness of the benefits of timely access to medications particularly biologic medications for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis is well documented and on-going. The following is an overview of our activity during the first half of this year.

Receiving a diagnosis of arthritis could mean that medications will be prescribed and taken. We would like to believe that these meds are completely safe when they are approved for use in Canada but unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Don’t believe those who say the Progressive Licensing Framework will put the health of Canadians at risk. We have been exposed to great risks over the past four decades with an out-dated system put into place pre-internet, in the day when information took over a week to go across the country via Canada Post; most Canadians shared their telephone service with three other families and a black and white console television set was the norm.

Different stakeholders bring different perspectives to The Standing Committee on Health hearings. Read what those affected the most by drug decisions are saying.

Medicine rationing has crept into the fabric of Canadian life. As various administrations take a nip at our rights here and trim our access there, we need to pay close attention.

Canadian pharmacists are ringing alarm bells over the mass importation of Canada's prescription to the U.S.