Canadians facing delayed access to new, innovative medicines: Report

Canadians face wait times of about 449 days in order to get access to new, potentially lifesaving medicines in public drug plans, according to a new IMS Health Canada report commissioned by Innovative Medicines Canada.

The 2016 Access to New Medicines in Public Drug Plans: Canada and Comparable Countries analyzed reimbursement for new medicines in provincial drug plans comprising at least 80% of the eligible national drug plan population. The report finds Canada's public drug plans are seriously lagging compared to other similar Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations.

Canadians who rely on public drug plans are facing more than a year's delay to access new, potentially lifesaving treatments. This report shines the light on why access to medicines in Canada needs to be improved – patients must come first.