5 April 2018 - Regulatory obstacles entail an additional delay of 15 months on average between the moment when a new drug is approved by Health Canada and its reimbursement by the provinces' public plans. 

And this process may get even more burdensome due to a recent reform, shows a publication launched today by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI).

"New drugs, which are indispensable to our quality of life, face a real obstacle course before arriving on the market. The regulatory process has multiple stages, and during this time, patients wait for treatment, even though the drugs are approved," says Mathieu Bédard, Economist at the MEI and the author of the publication.

For example, a breast cancer drug approved by Health Canada in March 2016 was only added to Quebec's list of reimbursed drugs in February 2018, or 23 months later. "Such delays are indefensible, and unacceptable!" exclaims Mr. Bédard. "They have serious repercussions on the health and on the lives of patients."

Read Montreal Economic Institute press release