Chronology: Major Events Relating to The National Pharmaceuticals Strategy

February 2003: The 2003 Accord on Health Care Renewal.
The 2003 Accord on Health Care Renewal was the result of a meeting of First Ministers in February 2003. Included in the commitment by First Ministers was a pledge to ensure that Canadians have reasonable access to catastrophic drug coverage by the end of 2005/06. Such coverage would help protect Canadians from suffering undue financial hardship for needed drug therapy

July 2004: Council of the Federation Meeting (First Ministers Conference)
In Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario in 2004 Premiers agreed there should be a significant shift in the delivery of pharmacare programs and called on the federal government to assume full responsibility for these programs across the country representing the first major innovation to health care in a generation. Premiers agreed that a national pharmaceutical program should immediately be established. The federal government should assume full financial responsibility for a comprehensive drug plan for all Canadians, and be accountable for the outcomes. This would be a meaningful improvement in services for all Canadians in a very important area of health care delivery.

Full release: http://www.scics.gc.ca/cinfo04/850098004_e.html

September 2004: Council of the Federation Meeting (First Ministers Conference)
As part of the 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care, First Ministers direct their Health Ministers to establish a Ministerial Task Force to develop and implement the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy and to report on progress by June 30, 2006.

The strategy is to include the following actions:

• develop, assess and cost options for catastrophic pharmaceutical coverage
• establish a common National Drug Formulary for participating jurisdictions based on safety and cost effectiveness
• accelerate access to breakthrough drugs for unmet health needs through improvements to the drug approval process
• strengthen evaluation of real-world drug safety and effectiveness
• pursue purchasing strategies to obtain best prices for Canadians for drugs and vaccines
• enhance action to influence the prescribing behaviour of health care professionals so that drugs are used only when needed and the right drug is used for the right problem
• broaden the practice of e-prescribing through accelerated development and deployment of the Electronic Health Record
• accelerate access to non-patented drugs and achieve international parity on prices of non-patented drugs
• enhance analysis of cost drivers and cost-effectiveness, including best practices in drug plan policies
• It is understood that Quebec will maintain its own pharmacare program

In October 2004, federal, provincial and territorial ministers of health established the Ministerial Task Force to guide the development and implementation of the NPS. The Task Force is co-chaired by the federal minister of health and the British Columbia minister of health services, and includes representatives from all provinces and territories except Quebec

February 2005: Health policy conference: Toward a National Pharmaceuticals Strategy
On February 9th and 10th, 2005 the UBC Centre For Health Services & Policy Research presented its 18th health policy conference: Toward a National Pharmaceuticals Strategy - Lessons from Abroad. Leading experts and policy makers from New Zealand, the UK and Canada explored international perspectives on issues and best practices in pharmaceutical policy, discussed evidence and values in drug coverage decisions, post-marketing surveillance, drug pricing and controls, national formularies, and drug promotion, all of which pose challenging issues as pharmaceutical policy reform moves forward in Canada. More information about this event and speakers' presentations can be found at www.chspr.ubc.ca/hpc

September 2005: Working Conference on the Evaluation of Real World Drug Safety and Effectiveness
On September 13-15 2005, a wide range of stakeholders, including regulators and policy makers, drug plan managers, health care providers, the pharmaceutical industry, researchers, private insurers and patients attended the Working Conference on the Evaluation of Real World Drug Safety and Effectiveness, held in Ottawa. Real World Drug Safety and Effectiveness is one of the nine action steps of the NPS, and is regarded by Federal, Provincial & Territorial (F/P/T) governments as a necessary step in the creation of an integrated, enhanced, and improved pharmacosurveillance system. While there are numerous post-market surveillance initiatives underway across Canada, Health Canada and all F/P/T Departments and Ministries of Health believe there is an urgent need to improve synergies and links among them. The Real World Drug Safety and Effectiveness working group has posted materials from the September 2005 conference on the Health Canada website. These materials and conference presentations are available at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/nps/safety-effectiveness.

October 2005: Annual Conference of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Health
F/P/T Health Ministers reaffirmed commitment to National Pharmaceuticals Strategy.

Full release: http://www.scics.gc.ca/cinfo05/830866004_e.html

November 2005: CO-Focus 2005, The NPS: Getting the Prescription Right
CO-Focus was an invitation only conference attended primarily by pharmacists and pharmacy stakeholders from across Canada, and held at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto on November 21, 2005. The event was jointly sponsored by Cobalt Pharmaceuticals and the Ontario Pharmacists’ Association.

Conference proceedings and agenda can be viewed at http://www.cofocus.ca/

May 2006: Round-Table: Improving Health Outcomes Through Effective Pharmaceutical Policy
On May 9, 2006, Leading health policy leaders, academics, researchers, medical professionals, and patients explored perspectives on issues and best practices in pharmaceutical policy at a national invitation-only roundtable on May 9th hosted by the Health Leadership Institute, DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University.

Conference proceedings and agenda can be viewed at http://www.wardhealth.com/nps

May 2006: Stakeholder Information Sessions
Information sessions were held in several communities to inform stakeholders on progress toward development of the NPS.

June 22, 2006: B.C. deputy health minister, Dr. Penny Ballem resigns.
Considered a major policy influencer and leader in the NPS, Dr. Penny Ballem resigns amidst rumors of a growing rift between her and the office of the British Columbia Premier's office.

July 5, 2006: Provincial and Territorial Health Ministers Meeting
On July 5, 2006 Ministers of Health accepted the progress report on the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy (NPS), and called upon the Government of Canada to commit to an ongoing partnership with provinces and territories to finalize the development and proceed with the implementation of this Strategy.

Note: Federal Health Minister Tony Clement did not attend the meeting, but did participate, in part, by teleconference.

Full release: http://www.scics.gc.ca/cinfo06/830882004_e.html and

http://news.gc.ca/cfmx/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=225829

July 28, 2006: First Ministers receive NPS progress report
Premiers received an update on progress of the NPS from Health Ministers, and directed them to release a report by September and to continue to work on key elements o fthe NPS with a special focus on the Catastrophic Drug Program. Premiers also urge the federal government to continue to work with provinces and territories to develop and implement the NPS. Full release available at: http://www.councilofthefederation.ca/pdfs/Communique-July28-ENG.pdf

Sept/Oct 2006: Public Release of NPS Progress Report
This report provides a series of recommendations and a snapshot of progress on the development and implementation of the Strategy to date.

NPS Progress Report