Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos’ request to suspend consultations on guidelines that would lower the price of pharmaceutical drugs has made it harder for the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board to do its work, a former board member told MPs Tuesday.
Matthew Herder — who resigned from the board in February, citing a lack of government support for needed reforms — told a parliamentary committee that Duclos’ interference in the board’s work has set a dangerous precedent.
“Industry now knows that it can bypass the [Patented Medicine Prices Review Board] when it isn’t satisfied with the board’s policy direction and get the minister to do its
