Drug prices that are too low could reduce access, says Canadian non-profit research group

If Health Canada achieves its goal of lowering the maximum prices for drugs, the health of Canadians could suffer, shows a Viewpoint published today by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit research and educational organization.

Indeed, in countries that have implemented similar price control policies, new drugs have become less accessible to the population.

"In wanting to reduce the prices of drugs, Health Canada runs the risk of reducing access to drugs instead," says Mathieu Bédard, economist at the MEI and author of the publication.