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Speeches Improving Patient Outcomes: The Role of Medicines and the Innovative Pharmaceutical Industry in An Integrated Health System Speech by Jean-François Leprince, President, Aventis Pharma, Chairman, Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, (Rx&D) OTTAWA (April 4, 2002) – Thank you Commissioner Romanow (and members of the Commission?) for allowing us to present our views on the future of health care in Canada. My name is Jean-François Leprince and I am President of Aventis Pharma and Chair of the Board of Directors of Rx&D. With me today is Murray Elston, President of Rx&D, the national association representing over 21,000 employees who work for Canada's 63 research-based pharmaceutical companies. While several proposals are being put forth on the future of health care in this country, we are of the firm opinion that patient health outcomes should be the paramount consideration in the development of government health policy and the delivery of health services. We also believe that an effective solution to the issues facing our health care system in Canada must include measures to ensure that effective medications are accessible to patients and then used appropriately to achieve optimal health outcomes. Innovative medications, when used appropriately, have been proven to prevent illness, effectively treat disease, improve quality of life and manage patient care outside of institutional settings. It is often the case that innovative pharmaceuticals help avoid hospital admissions and shorten hospital stays. Once patients are moved out of hospitals, however, their medication costs become an expense to either an insurer or themselves. This interface between hospital and community care can be problematic for patients, from both a clinical and an economic perspective. We believe there should be a seamless continuation of pharmaceutical therapy between these care settings, as unnecessary changes in treatment, often due to drug plan restrictions, can result in adverse health consequences for patients, and avoidable costs for the health care system. Given the importance of medications, Rx&D believes that they should be considered a medically necessary component of the health system. There should be adequate coverage programs in place to ensure all Canadians have access to necessary innovative prescription medicines.
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