In March 2007, we spoke with Brett Skinner of the Fraser Institute about Canadians’ access to new medications. We had had several organizations mention the difficulties and frustrations they have regarding medications that could provide better outcomes and yet are delayed in the approval process.

Brett Skinner, Fraser Institute Director of Health, Pharmaceutical and Insurance Policy Research and author of Access Delayed, Access Denied: Waiting For New Medicines in Canada, said, “Health Canada takes up to a year to approve new medicines as safe and effective. And while private insurance plans will immediately cover those medicines, the provinces can take up to another year to decide if they will pay for the same drugs.”

• Brett Skinner, Director, Health, Pharmaceutical and Insurance Policy Research, The Fraser Institute