Healthy Skepticism Library item: 16167

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Ontario’s law curbing the cost of generic drugs sparks changes
CMAJ 2009 Aug 4; 175:(4):342-3
http://www.cmaj.ca/earlyreleases/4aug09_generic_drugs.shtml

Abstract:

Ontario shook up the world of generic drug pricing across the country 3 years ago when it passed Bill 102, the
Transparent Drug System for Patients Act.

In turn, the executive officer of Ontario’s $4-billion-a-year drug benefit plan saw her own life disrupted.

In late April, Helen Stevenson was flanked by plainclothes Ontario Provincial Police bodyguards when she delivered a
speech to IMS Health Canada. It was the day after the province announced a series of legal actions and imposed penalties
totaling $33.8 million in a crackdown on violations of the Act.

Stevenson confirms that her need for security continues because of threats made in connection with her job.

For complicated reasons, Canadian prices for generic drugs – copies of brand-name drugs which have lost patent
protection – are among the highest in the world (see Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, Non-Patented Prescription
Drug Prices Reporting, 2006.)

Ontario’s legislation aimed to reduce the province’s drug benefit plan costs by exposing, and correcting, some of the
murky and hidden practices that contribute to those high prices