NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS STRATEGY PROGRESS REPORT RELEASED

Saskatchewan Health Minister Len Taylor and his provincial/territorial counterparts today released the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy (NPS) Progress Report.

The report provides recommendations for a multi-year strategy to improve access to drug therapies, help ensure the affordability of prescription drugs and work toward sustainability of the public health care system.

"Prescription drugs are a significant health care expenditure in this province and across the country, so an effective national pharmaceutical strategy will benefit all Canadians," Taylor said. "Saskatchewan's participation in the NPS is based on our commitment to improving access for Saskatchewan residents to drug therapies and to ensuring prescription drugs are affordable to those who need them."

The progress report addresses challenges and opportunities in five priority areas:

- Catastrophic Drug Coverage;

- Expensive drugs for rare diseases;

- Common National Formulary;

- Pricing and purchasing strategies; and

- Real world drug safety and effectiveness.

Saskatchewan is a co-lead province on the work to develop a common national formulary. A national approach to formulary management can streamline the processes for reviewing, approving and listing drugs, and provide more equitable drug coverage across the country. In addition, Saskatchewan is collaborating with other provinces to develop a common process for the review of cancer drugs.

In September 2004, Canada's First Ministers asked Health Ministers to establish a Ministerial Task Force to develop a National Pharmaceutical Strategy as part of the 10-year plan to strengthen health care.

The full National Pharmaceuticals Strategy Progress Report is available online at www.nps-snpp.ca.

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For More Information, Contact:

Joan Petrie Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-4083