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The article reports on a discussion paper released by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board which asks Canadians, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies to review the drug-pricing system in Canada, with the aim of modernizing and simplifying the regulatory framework on patented drug pricing. It highlights statistics which compare the cost of medicines in the country with others. The discussion paper is said to be a part of a consultation process designed to focus drug-pricing problems.

The article reports that Health Canada is proposing a new regulatory regime for pharmaceuticals and biologics. The proposition was to support its move to lower the threshold for initial market authorization licenses in exchange for additional safety and efficacy studies as the condition for selling drug. The regulatory regime incorporates the notion of post-market surveillance into Health Canada. Nevertheless, the changes that the proposed regime offers are still being reviewed.

The article focuses on the efficacy of the global campaign against illegal drug use. Dr. Evan Wood states that the new approach on drug policy was ineffective due to the neglect of evidence-based interventions. Meanwhile, two Vancouver-based groups and the International AIDS Society have launched a global drive for signatories to the Vienna Declaration that shows a decline in illegal drug prices and an increase in the number of countries using those drugs such as Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Reports on the proposal of Health Canada to eliminate statutory barriers against direct-to-consumer advertising of the purported health benefits from using natural health products (NHP) and non-prescription drugs to treat serious diseases. Claims of the proposal's proponents on its impact; Discussion on issues governing its regulatory amendments; Coverage of the licensing regime for NHP and non-prescription drugs.

The article discusses Bill C-7 or Protecting Canadians From Unsafe Drugs Act, a legislation introduced into the Canadian Parliament in December 2013 to regulate prescription drugs for patient safety. Elements in the proposed regulation include the power to recall drugs, the power to overcome information asymmetries and the power to enforce conditions on market authorizations and compel changes to product labels.

To enhance public understanding of the outcomes of cannabis legalization in Canada and avoid this skewed situation, provincial and territorial governments must become more transparent with their cannabis data. Despite the many potential impacts of the legalization of cannabis in Canada, provincial and territorial governments' poor disclosure of data about their recreational sales hinders researchers' efforts to study the the medical and social effects of legalization. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents a reprint of the article "Policy alternatives for treatments for rare diseases," by Abbas H. Panju and Chaim M. Bell, which appeared in www.cmaj.ca. It mentions that partnership among pharmaceutical companies, clinical community, and federal government are factors needed for the development of drugs used for treating rare diseases. It adds that Canada's legislators passed Bill M-426 for the development of a national strategy to finance drugs to cure rare diseases.

Reports on the plan of the Canadian government to reintroduce legislation amending the Patent Act to allow cheaper production of HIV/AIDS drugs for developing countries. Benefits of the proposed amendments for generic drug companies; Cost of antiretroviral drugs under the plan; Supporters of the legislation.

The article reports on the plan of Health Canada to increase transparency into its regulatory process for drugs and medical devices by releasing clinical information submitted by drug and medical devices companies that receive market authorization. It mentions how access to clinical information submitted by companies will help people make informed decisions about their health, and increase public confidence; and plan to disclose information if the drug or medical device is approved for sale.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Cannabis Legalization: Adhering to Public Health Best Practice" in the 2015 issue.

Reports on the changes that are underway in Canada's drug regulatory system which will have significant implications for how new drugs are approved and how well Health Canada monitors the safety of drugs already on the market. New direction in regulatory activities enunciated by the Throne Speech that opened the parliamentary session at the end of September 2002; Budget committed to improve the timeliness of Health Canada's regulatory processes with respect to human drugs; Percentage of new active substances marketed in Canada that qualify as either breakthrough products or significant therapeutic improvements.

The author reflects on the need for close examination on the progressive licensing of drugs by regulatory agencies in Canada. The author comments that pharmaceutical products cannot be easily approved and cannot be driven by profit. He points out that regulatory agencies must focus on a transparent, patient-centered regulatory system which ensures drugs are safe and efficacious before and after their release.

Reports on the enactment of a Canadian legislation designed to provide developing countries with cheaper drugs to treat HIV/AIDS on May 14, 2004. Laws amended in the legislation; Provisions of the legislation; Other pre-election changes related to the Canadian health care system.