Health Canada

The fifth in a series of reports providing the most current national information available on the health status of Canadians and the performance of the Canadian health care system. Includes updated data (where available) for indicators included in the 2008 report, as well as a few additional indicators, for a total of 52. Based on data produced by and with the assistance of Statistics Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

The thesis of this article is that the Canadian tradition of secrecy around the approval of drugs and devices, coupled with inadequate post-marketing surveillance, has harmed Canadian women and their families. Mains states that proposed changes to the legislative framework must ensure greater transparency and accountability to the approval process as well as enforcement of more stringent conflict of interest guidelines. This peice includes a list of recommendations.

Ann Rochon Ford, coordinator of Women and Health Protection composed a letter of concerns around the process of Health Canada's regulation hearings for breast implant use in Canada.  The link includes the reply from Health Canada and further concerns raised by Rochon Ford.

Consumers/patients and health professionals can report adverse reactions (also known as side effects) to health products, including prescription and non-prescription medications, biologics (including fractionated blood products, as well as therapeutic and diagnostic vaccines), natural health products and radiopharmaceuticals, to the Canada Vigilance Program.

This article looks at the international context for health reform in Canada.  The author explores how Canada has developed some unique reform strategies and adapted others to suit our particular circumstances. She argues that this is particularly the case in the areas of health promotion and gender-based analysis. But foreign influences and external pressures have seldom been absent, although the extent and nature of these have changed significantly over the years.

Argues that the federal government is protecting drug companies instead of the public by keeping information about the drug approval process secret. Examines the impact of this on women's health.

Argues that the lack of transparency in the drug approval process can lead to inappropriate, unnecessary and sometimes dangerous drug use, and it impedes the development of knowledge and appropriate decision-making.

Illustrates the flaws in the Canadian drug approval and drug regulatory processes, using the current Vioxx scandal as example.

Discusses why women should report all cases of known or suspected harm from prescription drugs and medicines. Provides contact information for consumers who wish to file a report.

Discusses the importance of an effective post-market surveillance system of therapeutic drugs. Lists problems with the current system, and argues that improvements will only occur when there is greater consumer involvement.