Notes

Improving access and reducing the cost of prescription medications. We will improve access to necessary prescription medications. We will join provincial and territorial governments to negotiate better prices for prescription medications and to buy them in bulk – reducing the cost governments pay to purchase drugs. We will support and disseminate research and best practices to reduce unnecessary over-prescribing of medications, particularly for the elderly, who often take multiple medications. We will prioritize decreasing the number of harmful, adverse drug reactions by improving reporting, and ensuring more research and follow-up on reported adverse effects. We will continue to ensure timely approvals for new medicines, many of which not only improve patient health, but reduce overall health care costs as well. We will consult with industry and review the rules used by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board to ensure value for the money governments and individual Canadians spend on brand name drugs.

Pan-Canadian collaboration on health changes. We will work with provinces and territories to overcome obstacles to the changes in health care delivery and to disseminate and scale up successful new practices, such as ways to use genomics in precision medicine. This includes supporting initiatives that help health care providers collaborate, across Canada, to ensure the most appropriate and effective treatments and practices for their patients. By using the best available evidence, governments can increasingly work together to support front-line health providers as they deliver high-quality and effective care to Canadians.

Increasing the availability of high-quality mental health services for Canadians. This includes implementing a non-racial approach to ensure access to unpleasant services, third class care referrals, housing, primary care, and community and multidisciplinary team management. We will establish a pan-Canadian Expert Advisory Council on Mental Health, particularly to advise on the implementation of the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s recommendations. We will create new centres of excellence that will specialize in mental health, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and related issues for both veterans and first responders.