HEAL Committee News Release
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Standing Committee on Health |
HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6 |
Comité permanent de la santé |
For immediate release
NEWS RELEASE
HEALTH COMMITTEE CALLS FOR ACTION ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Ottawa, April 1, 2004 - The Standing Committee on Health today tabled a report in the House of Commons entitled Opening the Medicine Cabinet. Responding to concerns raised by Canadians, this first report on the health aspects of prescription drugs calls on Health Canada to increase its surveillance of clinical trials, of adverse drug reactions, and of direct-to-consumer advertising.
Committee members challenge the department to take more forceful actions to ensure the health and safety of Canadians who need access to prescription drugs. Thus, they want a significant increase in the number of annual inspections for clinical trials for prescription drugs involving human subjects. As well, they advocate increased post-market surveillance to enhance the capacity to receive, analyse and respond to reports about adverse reactions attributed to prescription drugs. Furthermore, they call for vigorous enforcement of the current prohibitions on industry-sponsored advertisements for prescription drugs directed to the public.
“We do not accept the passive approach of Health Canada in these areas that directly affect the health of Canadians and the sustainability of our healthcare system,” stated Bonnie Brown, M.P. (Oakville), Chair of the Standing Committee. She reiterated the views of Canadians that clinical trials expose individuals to a degree of risk that requires more scrutiny from Health Canada and greater transparency for the public. In addition, she noted that post-market surveillance of prescription drugs is marked by an absence of concerted follow-up on adverse drug reactions reported by health professionals and members of the public. However, the Chair went on to say that the biggest concern surrounds direct-to-consumer advertising: “Advertising directly to the public is restricted by regulation in Canada but the current lack of enforcement means that Canadians are bombarded by biased marketing images that contribute to increased prescription drug use.”
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