Strong life sciences sector can help drive transformative change in health care

WITHIN WEEKS OF HIS APPOINTMENT AS THE NEW FEDERAL HEALTH MINISTER, MARK HOLLAND told participants at the Canadian Medical Association Health Summit in Ottawa in August that sweeping changes are necessary for Canadians to see better results from their health-care system.

“We need to engage in transformative change on a scale that’s never happened before,” Holland said. Nationwide improvements in health care, as Holland seemed to suggest, will require collaboration by all levels of government, health stakeholders, and the private sector.

The life sciences sector can be a key partner to help achieve this transformative change. A strong life sciences sector can help reduce strain on health systems, bring more research and development to Canada, and attract more clinical trials to offer new hope for patients. While federal and provincial life sciences strategies are a good first step, more needs to be done to ensure these strategies have the desired impact.

First and foremost, governments need to ensure timely access to new and innovative therapeutics and treatments for all Canadians. Too often, made in Canada innovations are not readily accessible by Canadian patients. For example, it takes two years, on average, for approved new drugs to be listed on Canada’s public drug plans. This is twice as long as the time it takes in most peer countries. This delay not only impacts health outcomes for Canadians, but it makes Canada a less attractive destination for life sciences investments and innovation.

Secondly, life sciences strategies require effective governance and a whole-of-Canada approach towards implementation. There should be a designated point person or organization accountable for the execution of the

strategies and with a mandate to ensure necessary investments, policy approaches, and coordination across the sector. This person or organization should be supported by a governance council which includes representation from Ministries of Economic Development, Ministries of Health, academia, health system leadership, industry, patients, families and caregivers, and other relevant sector stakeholders.

Lastly, Canada needs to do a better job of combining the strengths of health systems and the life sciences sector by integrating the discovery, testing, and adoption of life science innovations into Canadian health systems. For example, health systems and life science leaders could identify and prioritize areas for improvement and change. In addition, efforts to increase clinical trial capacity both inside and outside of academic centres could lead to more Canadians having early access to innovative treatments which could improve, extend, or even save lives. Health systems that participate in trials are more likely to adopt approved clinical innovations and have better health outcomes for patients. Regulatory and procurement policies which allow for the adoption of innovations in a timely manner also help make health systems a leading driver of innovation in life sciences in Canada.

Minister Holland is correct that transformative change in our approach to and delivery of health care services is imperative to meet the ongoing challenges in the health sector. For this to happen, there needs to be ongoing dialogue and collaboration between governments, industry, patients, academia, and other health stakeholders. Canada’s innovative pharmaceutical industry already plays a key role in ensuring the health of all Canadians and is ready to partner with government to achieve that transformative change.