Vaginal surgical mesh: Health Canada's role
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What we do
Health Canada regulates all medical devices for sale in Canada. We evaluate the quality, safety and effectiveness of all vaginal surgical mesh sold in Canada before we issue a medical device licence.
After a medical device such as vaginal surgical mesh is licensed, we monitor them for their safety, effectiveness and quality. As part of our post-market surveillance activities, we may:
- conduct inspections to ensure a company is complying with the medical device regulations
- monitor medical devices through recalls, problem and incident reports from consumers, manufacturers, health care providers and other sources
We review all reports related to medical device problems and take appropriate action as required. This can range from requesting a label change, to controlling distribution, to issuing a risk communication, to recalling the device, to suspending the manufacturer's licence.
What we don't do
Health Canada does not:
- cover the fees for surgeries
- provinces/territories determine the reimbursement of medical costs to hospitals, doctors and patients
- you can contact your provincial/territorial ministry of health or your personal health care insurance company
- provide medical or legal advice
- for medical options, speak with your health care provider
- for legal options, speak with a lawyer
- maintain a database linking individual patients with the specific types of implants they have
- regulate medical decisions by doctors
- this responsibility falls to the respective medical colleges and regulatory bodies
Contact us
If you have questions for Health Canada about the licensing of vaginal surgical mesh, please:
- email: meddevices-instrumentsmed@hc-sc.gc.ca
- phone: 613-957-7285
- teletypewriter: 1-800-465-7735 (Service Canada)
If you have questions or concerns about the risks and safety of vaginal surgical mesh, please:
If you have questions or concerns about an inspection of a company or a recall or wish to report a problem or an incident related to a medical device, please:
- call toll-free at 1-800-267-9675
- fill out the report a medical device problem form
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