Canadian Pain Task Force Meeting: December 2, 2020

Canadian Pain Task Force Meeting: December 2, 2020, 10:30-12:00 EST
Via videoconference

Meeting Summary

Objectives

• Reconsider goals and process for Phase III in light of new Health Canada guidance
• Debrief on release of Phase II report
• Discuss proposed regulatory changes to the scheduling of tramadol

Participants

Task Force: Fiona Campbell, Maria Hudspith, Manon Choinière, Hani El-Gabalawy, Michael Sangster, Jacques Laliberté, Jaris Swidrovich, Linda Wilhelm

External Advisory Panel: Norm Buckley, David Lussier, Laura Murphy (for tramadol discussion)

Secretariat: Andrew Taylor, Megan Wyszynski, Baies Haqani, Lindsey Yessick, Olanna Barnett, Nyree Schreiber

Special Guests: Eric Costen, Carol Anne Chénard, Louise Lazar (Health Canada)

Welcome

• The Secretariat welcomed everyone and provided an overview of the meeting objectives and agenda. The Secretariat also inquired about changes to Task Force member affiliations and interests, with no significant updates reported.

Planning for Phase III activities

• The Secretariat provided a debrief on the Phase II report release and communication activities. Preliminary report metrics related to social media and web met or exceeded typical benchmarks.
• The Secretariat passed on a congratulatory message from the Minister of Health on the submission of the Phase II report.
• The Secretariat also gave a brief overview of new Health Canada direction to accelerate Phase III of the Task Force's mandate and adapt the focus of its final report to include recommendations on priority actions. The final recommendations report should be submitted to Health Canada by March 2021.
• Based on these changes, the Secretariat outlined revised Terms of Reference. Task Force members discussed the proposed changes to their mandate and agreed with the Secretariat's proposal.
• The Secretariat outlined three options to approach creating the Phase III report. Task Force members discussed the proposed options, ways to engage the External Advisory Panel (EAP), and how the Secretariat could support this work.
• Task Force members agreed that a primary lead would draft the first iteration of the report with support from the Secretariat as needed. Following the first draft, all Task Force members will review and comment, primarily via email, with further engagement with EAP, Task Force Members, and select stakeholders in early 2021.
• The Task Force also discussed the importance of continuing to explore work on economic costing and potential return on investment.

Guidance on proposed tramadol regulatory changes

• The Director of Legislative and Regulatory affairs at Health Canada outlined the context and proposed regulatory changes to the scheduling of tramadol.
• The Task Force and invited External Advisory Panel members shared their thoughts related to impacts that the designation of tramadol as a narcotic may have on patients or practitioners. The group was generally supportive of the proposed changes given they do not change how patients access the medication and it would still be available for those who need it. However, members emphasized the importance of adequate communication for both patients and prescribers once changes are finalized and come into force.

Next steps and follow-up items

• The Secretariat will create a critical path outlining the steps to create the Phase III report and the Task Force designate will begin writing the first draft.
• The Secretariat will begin the necessary steps to officially update the Task Force Mandate.
• The Secretariat will update their work plans to reflect the changes in the Task Force Mandate.