OTTAWA, March 7, 2005 -- Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh today officially launched a Health Canada pilot project that will help to ensure patients and consumers have the information and support they need to participate in the Department's decision-making about the risks and benefit of drugs. "This project is one of the steps I will be taking to make Health Canada more open and transparent," said Minister Dosanjh. "My commitment is to make more information about the drug review system and about the safety of the drugs we use available to Canadians - to help them weigh the risks and benefits of a product when making decisions about their health - and to involve them in the decision-making process. "My vision for the future is a drug safety system that takes into account the needs of patients and consumers, supports medical professionals, builds on scientific expertise and also respects proprietary business information." The pilot information session, which was developed by Health Canada's Office of Consumer and Public Involvement in collaboration with 16 patient and consumer organizations, will give over 80 patient and consumer stakeholders information specifically tailored to their needs. It will focus on the decision-making process used by the Health Products and Food Branch to review drugs for safety before they are authorized for sale in Canada. The session will also provide information onlook at federal, provincial and territorial roles in the health system. The day-long session, the first of its kind at Health Canada, will be held in Ottawa with simultaneous delivery in Moncton, Winnipeg and Toronto via the internet and teleconference. Participants can also hook-in via teleconference and follow along on their home/office computer. Health Canada plans to offer such information sessions on a quarterly basis with regular webcasts taking place throughout the year. Following the pilot, all training and information materials will be posted on the Health Canada website, http://hc-sc.gc.ca . - 30 - Media Inquiries: Jirina Vlk Health Canada (613) 957-2988 Adele Blanchard Office of Minister Dosanjh Minister of Health (613) 957-0200 Public Inquiries: (613) 957-2991 Fact Sheet March 2005 Office of Consumer and Public Involvement The work of the Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB) directly effects the lives of every Canadian. As Canada's authority for the regulation of health products and food, the scope of the Branch's work is significant: there are over 22,000 human drug products 40,000 medical devices, and 400 biologics and genetic therapies on the Canadian market today. HPFB's mandate is to review this vast range of products for safety, quality and efficacy prior to marketing, and to monitor their use for health risks and therapeutic effectiveness once they are approved and being used in the marketplace. Transparency and accountability are essential for Canadians to have confidence that HPFB bases all its decision-making on the public interest. Public awareness and involvement in the Branch's decisions about the risks and benefits of health products is key to earning that confidence. That's why HPFB established the Office of Consumer and Public Involvement (OCAPI) - to support Canadians in understanding how decisions about health products that affect their safety and health are made, and to help make sure that their perspective is considered in the decision-making process. OCAPI acts as a centre of expertise on reaching out to and involving the public. Its staff work together with individuals who are directly involved in HPFB programs to develop initiatives that will reach out to inform and involve the public. This is done in various ways such as surveys, formal consultations and round-table discussions. Every year, OCAPI supports about 100 public involvement activities across the Branch on a broad variety of topics. The Office is active in getting information out to Canadians on matters such as health products and food, the regulatory process, drugs and natural health products - information that will help the public in making decisions that affect their health. OCAPI's goal is to identify and fill gaps in information needs of Canadians, including patients and consumers about the business of the Branch. Its outreach program builds relationships, identifies key areas of interest and links stakeholders and the public with Branch officials and experts on issues of interest to them. OCAPI produces a quarterly newsletter aimed at keeping the public up-to- date on Health Canada activities in health promotion and the regulation of health products and food. Visit OCAPI's website at http://ocapi.hc-sc.gc.ca .
