Patented Medicines | Regulations seeking to drive down costs postponed for six months

(Ottawa) Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos is delaying the coming into force of new regulations aimed at reducing the cost of patented drugs in Canada for six months.

Health Canada first announced the changes in 2019 to protect Canadians from excessive drug prices, but the government has repeatedly delayed implementing the rules.

The regulations were supposed to come into effect in early January, but are now postponed to 1^er July 2022.

Minister Duclos said in a statement that the latest delay will allow industry, government and other players in the drug distribution system to focus their efforts on tackling the pandemic.

Health Canada expects the changes to save Canadians billions of dollars in patented drugs.

Life sciences groups, patient advocates and drug companies have called on the minister to completely reconsider the changes, fearing a sharp drop in drug prices will make Canada an unattractive place to launch new life-saving therapies .