HESA Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 13

Thursday, February 14, 2008

The Standing Committee on Health met at 11:06 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Joy Smith, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Hon. Carolyn Bennett, Patrick Brown, Patricia Davidson, Steven John Fletcher, Christiane Gagnon, Susan Kadis, Luc Malo, Joy Smith, Lui Temelkovski, Hon. Robert Thibault, David Tilson and Judy Wasylycia-Leis.

Acting Members present: Roger Gaudet for Luc Malo.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Sonya Norris, Analyst ; Nancy Miller Chenier, Analyst.

Witnesses: Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists: Myrella Roy, Executive Director. Canadian Pharmacists Association: Jeff Poston, Executive Director; Denis Villeneuve, Member of the Board. Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec: Claude Gagnon, President; Manon Lambert, Director General and Secretary. National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities: Karen Wolfe, Executive Director.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Tuesday, December 11, 2007, the Committee resumed its study on Post-Market Surveillance of Pharmaceutical Products, Prescription and Non-Prescription.

Myrella Roy, Jeff Poston, Denis Villeneuve, Claude Gagnon and Karen Wolfe made statements and, with Manon Lambert, answered questions.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis moved, — That the Standing Committee on Health call on the government to strengthen its monitoring and analytical capacity regarding enforcement of the Canada Health Act, in order to better identify challenges facing public health care, including: excessive wait times for diagnostics and treatment, the high cost of prescription drugs to individuals and the health care system, and the impacts of increased privatization; and that the Minister of Health appear before the Health Committee within 30 days following the publication of his department’s Canada Health Act Annual Report to indicate what proactive measures his government will be undertaking to ensure that Canadians’ rights under the Act are fully protected and strongly enforced in light of the current challenges to Canadians’ public health care system; and finally that the present motion, if adopted by the Committee on Thursday, February 14, 2008, be reported to the House.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

The Chair informed members that the appearance of the Minister of Health before the Committee on the subject of the new organ donor regulations, previously scheduled for March 4, 2008, would not be possible due to unforeseen circumstances; and at the request of the Minister could the meeting be now moved to either Tuesday, March 11 or Thursday, March 13, 2008.

Robert Thibault moved, — That the date of the meeting on March 4, 2008, with witnesses on the subject of the new organ donor regulations, not be changed; and that the Minister be invited to appear before the Committee on this issue during the final 45 minutes of either the March 11 or March 13, 2008 meeting, depending on his availability.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

At 1:05 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Carmen DePape
Clerk of the Committee

2008-02-15 12:14 p.m.