Expanding Patient Access to Innovative Drugs in Canada

Abstract

Canadian patients must consistently wait an average of two years for public reimbursement of new medicines following their approval by Health Canada.1,2 While Canadian regulatory approval rates for new medications are comparable to those in other markets, Canada ranks among the slowest of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD20) countries in providing publicly funded reimbursement for these treatments.2 Access barriers and inequities also apply to public reimbursement of innovative therapiesin Canadian dermatology.3-5   Canada’s reimbursement landscape is complex and multi-layered, comprising both public and private elements. While private insurance plans may choose to cover new treatments immediately following approval by Health Canada, the same treatments must undergo a lengthy series of additional reviews by federal, provincial, and territorial agencies before becoming eligible for inclusion on public formularies.1 As a result, patients who depend on publicly reimbursed medications including seniors and lower income families, face significant disadvantages in accessing new therapies.6 Canada has an opportunity to learn from best practices in other jurisdictions to streamline reimbursement pathways and provide earlier, equitable access to new therapies for a greater number of patients.2,7 This article examines barriers to drug reimbursement in Canada, including specific access challenges associated with new dermatological treatments. It also reviews Canada’s current efforts to improve treatment access and describes strategies used in other jurisdictions that could be leveraged to facilitate more equitable patient access to innovative treatments for Canadian patients.