Patient’s Voices Important to Drug Review Process
The voice of patients is important to drug review processes across Canada. Patient input processes enable patients to be active participants in the decisions that affect their ability to manage their health.
The BC PharmaCare drug review process provides patients and caregivers the opportunity to influence the drug approval process in that province. To gather input, BC PharmaCare has created Your Voice, a portal for patients and caregivers to submit their views about drugs being reviewed for Pharmacare coverage in BC. If you have not already read about Your Voice, you can visit www.health.gov.bc.ca/pharmacare/yourvoice to learn more about the drug review process and your eligibility to submit an opinion on drugs that may impact you. You can also sign up to be notified when public input is being accepted for drug reviews.
Equal and timely access to medications as clinically appropriate is important for all Canadians, especially for those with chronic diseases such as diabetes and related complications. Nationally, the Canadian Diabetes Association released a report on the Common Drug Review in June of this year, which is available at: http://www.diabetes.ca/advocacy/reports-and-information/in-the-balance-a-renewed-vision-for-the-common-drug-review/. Results of an invitation-only summit on the CDR held in Ottawa June 6-7 to discuss ways to move forward with enhancements to the drug review process will be available soon.