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National Pharmaceutical Strategy: Collaboration Required
 A Ministerial Task Force has been established under
the direction of the First Ministers to develop and implement a National Pharmaceutical Strategy. The Task Force is to report on its progress in less
than six months. The Task Force, which has now been working to its ultimate goal of a National Pharmaceutical Strategy for well over a year, is missing
a key and decisive element, collaborating with stakeholders on innovative solutions.
Take the Road Less Traveled
The development of a National Pharmaceutical Strategy should be seen as an opportunity to innovate through dialogue with stakeholders, a
chance to strike out the old methodologies and ideas and look at new and effective ways of integration to achieve the best healthcare delivery
system we can for our key stakeholder, the Canadian people. And yet, it would seem that the Task Force has not taken that road less traveled
at all.
In fact, the process has not included stakeholders and their own key proposed actions show just the opposite focus (see sidebar). One look
through this list shows that seeking innovative ways to integrate health care delivery systems to ensure patients are receiving the best
care possible care is nowhere to be found.
Pharmaceuticals are but one component of the health care delivery system and should be considered within the framework of the entire health
care delivery system. However, the approach under the National Pharmaceutical Strategy deals with this component in isolation.
The lack of an integrated approach is also evident throughout the process being used to discuss the components of National Pharmaceutical
Strategy. A recent Centre for Health Services and Policy Research (CHSPR) conference on the topic of National Pharmaceutical Strategy is a
prime example.
A brief scan of the program shows that important missing element. The conference, called “Toward a National Pharmaceutical Strategy, Lessons
From Abroad”, features speakers from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Canada. It would have been a good stage for the topics of
innovation and integration of health delivery systems in other countries to play out.
Instead, a decided narrow focus and lack of innovation is apparent with such topics as National Formularies and Price Regulation, Evidence,
Economics and Values in Coverage Decisions and Drug Promotion: Threat to Quality? While interesting new ideas may come out of the conference,
a missed opportunity to explore integrated health care delivery with a focus on patient outcomes does not create an environment for our health
system to evolve effectively to meet future demands.
Look to the Individual Successes for Shared Success
There are many potential success stories in Canada that should be taken into account when developing a health care delivery system where the
National Pharmaceutical Strategy is an integrated component. Province by province, day by day there are new and innovative methods being
used in the healthcare delivery system.
In fact, just over a month ago, The Alberta Hip and Knee Replacement Project announced its successes. This pilot project has reduced wait
times significantly by creating a central assessment clinic where patients are seen by a team of health care professionals in one visit.
Initial success in the eight month pilot project indicate decreased wait times for initial consult, decreased wait time for surgery from 47
weeks to 4.7 and decreased length of stay in hospital. The innovative thinking behind this project could significantly impact the healthcare
delivery system in that province. Imagine what that type of innovation could do for a National Pharmaceutical Strategy given the chance.
Reflect the Needs of All Canadians
While the goal of the Task Force has been to develop a national strategy, it would seem that the key element of innovative input from stakeholders
has, to date, been left out of the process.
Rx&D believes that without the input from patients, physicians, pharmacists, nurses and other health care stakeholders, the National
Pharmaceutical Strategy will never truly reflect the needs of all Canadians.
Now is the time to make our voices heard, while there is still time to introduce innovative thinking into the process. Talk to your
Minister of Health to ensure a National Pharmaceutical Strategy for the entire country is reflective of the success stories, stakeholder
input and innovation we can collectively offer.
Article first published in the Winter 2006 issue of Discovery: Western Canada's Quarterly Newsletter from Canada's Research Based
Pharmaceutical Companies.
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Return to Health Frontiers
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 Health
Frontiers: Issue 4
Actions included in National Pharmaceutical Strategy Task Force
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Develop, assess and cost options for catastrophic pharmaceutical coverage |
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