Pharmacare in Canada Flashcards
1
Q
What are 4 recommendations for policy makers for pharmacare?
A
- Federal, provincial, territorial governments develop and implement pharmacare plans that mandate universal, comprehensive, portable prescription drug coverage for children and youth
- Federal government should develop a comprehensive, evidence-informed, national list of pediatric drugs should be developed for inclusion in a national pharmacare program. All children &; youth should have access to the drugs on this list.
- Health Canada must modernize processes for drug approvals and oversight to expand access to pediatric medications & ensure appropriate pediatric labelling for all medications marketed in Canada
- Federal government should support pediatric drug trials, cost-effectiveness research in children & youth, & development of commercial pediatric drug formulations
2
Q
What is pharmacare?
A
drug insurance system that ensures access for all Canadians to the medications they need
3
Q
Name 4 Pediatric issues that are central to pharmacare and differentiate it from adults
A
- Children &youth are a vulnerable population warranting special attention
- Children & youth have unique Rx drug needs that differ from adults
- Children & youth have experienced significant regulatory neglect, leading to poor availability of pediatric drugs in Canada
- Drug therapies for children & youth can provide significant returns on investment that may not be captured by current Canadian assessment processes
4
Q
What is the most common Rx for a child?
A
abx for short-term use
5
Q
What is the most commonly prescribed med for chronic condition in peds?
A
inhaler for asthma (6%)
6
Q
What is a “rare disease”?
A
a life-threatening, seriously debilitating or serious and chronic condition affecting a fairly small number of patients (Health Canada)
- each disease affects < 1 in 2000 people
- 1 in 12 Canadians affected by a rare disease (2/3 <18 yrs)
7
Q
What % of pediatric Rx are off label in Canada?
A
80%
