Innovative medicines lower health-care costs

Re: “Concerted effort needed to limit drug prices,” column, Jan. 31.

Canadians have long benefited from innovative medicines. In just one generation, we have shifted HIV from a death sentence to a manageable chronic illness, and we’re still trying to find a cure.

Our health-care system is complex and partners are working to find ways to make it viable for generations to come. The outcome is better if innovative medicines are a part of it.

The cost of investing in innovative medicines is only six per cent of the total health-care budget.

The Patented Medicines Prices Review Board, a federal agency, regulates the ceil- ing price of new medicines. For 30 recently launched medicines, the price in Canada was second-lowest among the seven PMPRB comparator countries, including new Hepatitis C products launched in 2014.

Health-technology assessment agencies assess price versus therapeutic value of a treatment to determine if it should be listed by a drug plan. For Hepatitis C treatments, these agencies in Canada and internationally unanimously recommended treatments should be reimbursed by public plans.

Medicines bring great benefit to Canadians. For every $1 spent on new medicines, non-medicine expenses drop more than $7. That’s avoided costs in hospitalizations, invasive surgery or even reduced quality of life.

There remain significant non-cost related barriers to Canadians accessing the medicines they need, including long delays in listing new medicines on drug plans and the small group of Canadians who have no drug coverage. These issues need to be addressed if we are to ensure access to medicines for all Canadians. Russell Williams, president Innovative Medicines Canada Ottawa