May 7, 2003
Medicare Action Alert: Act Now! May 7, 2003
As many of you know, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry has now agreed to review the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations of Canada's Patent Act, thanks in large part to the public outcry generated by health coalition activists when the Committee voted against conducting a review on March 31, 2003.
See Victory for Big Drug Makers:
<http://www.healthcoalition.ca/drug-pushers-win.html>See Victory for Big Drug Makers Reversed:
<http://www.healthcoalition.ca/drug-pushers-lose.html>The Industry Committee, which has scheduled June 2-4, 2003 for the hearings, will only hear from government and industry representatives. Because the Canadian public is not allowed to appear at the hearings, and given the fact that abuse of patent protection is a major obstacle to sustainable Medicare, it is essential that M.P.s on the Committee hear directly from citizens.
Please take a moment and write / call / visit the members of the Industry Committee. A complete list of Industry Committee members and where they stand can be found below.
-------------------------- Letter to MPs -------------------------
Dear Mr. Lastewka, M.P.
I am writing you about a matter that seriously threatens the sustainability of our health care system: the out-of-control cost of brand-name prescription drugs. Your committee has chosen not to hear directly from Canadians on the matter of Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations of Canada's Patent Act.
I urge your committee to call on the government of Canada to repeal the NOC Regulations immediately. With drug costs going through the roof, it is urgent that your committee take immediate action.
Regulations that allow brand name drug manufacturers to prolong patent monopoly beyond the 20-year term must be eliminated. This abuse, known as "evergreening," threatens the sustainability of Medicare.
I want you to support the Romanow Commission recommendation calling for improved access to generic drugs. This measure will help contain escalating costs which threaten the future of Medicare.
I expect the views of your electorate, and not just the views of the drug industry, to be heard and taken into account. Access to health care must come before the insatiable greed of the pharmaceutical industry.Sincerely,
Medicare Defender---------------------------------------------------------------
If you send a letter, please be sure to forward a copy to the Industry Committee Chair,
Walt Lastewka (St. Catharines), and the Canadian Health Coalition:Walt Lastewka, M.P.
Chair, Industry Committee
House of Commons
561 Confederation Building
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Tel: 613-992-3352
Fax: 613-947-4402
Email: lastew@parl.gc.caCanadian Health Coalition
2841 Riverside Drive
Ottawa, ON K1V 8X7
Tel: 613-521-3400 Ext. 311
Fax: 613-521-9638
Email: brad@healthcoalition.ca=====================================
MPs Who Support a Review
=====================================Andy Savoy (NEW BRUNSWICK / Liberal)
Member of Parliament, Tobique—Mactaquac
Telephone: 506-473-6632, Fax: 506-473-6680
Email: savoy.a@parl.gc.caSerge Marcil (QUEBEC / Liberal)
Member of Parliament, Beauharnois—Salaberry
Telephone: 450-377-1050, Fax: 450-377-3448
Email: marcil.s@parl.gc.caBrian Masse (ONTARIO / New Democratic Party)
Member of Parliament, Windsor West
Telephone: 519-255-1631, Fax: 519-255-7913
Email: masse.b@parl.gc.caJanko Peric (ONTARIO / Liberal)
Member of Parliament, Cambridge
Telephone: 519-622-9393, Fax: 519-622-9865
Email: pericj@parl.gc.caBrent St. Denis (ONTARIO / Liberal)
Member of Parliament, Algoma—Manitoulin
Telephone: 705-869-0059, Fax: 705-869-5341
Email: st.denis.b@parl.gc.caJoseph Volpe (ONTARIO / Liberal)
Member of Parliament, Eglinton—Lawrence
Telephone: 416-781-5583, Fax: 416-781-5586
Email: volpe.j@parl.gc.caDan McTeague (ONTARIO / Liberal)
Member of Parliament, Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge
Telephone: 905-420-7573, Fax: 905-420-4186
Email: mctead@parl.gc.caLarry Bagnell (YUKON / Liberal)
Member of Parliament, Yukon
Telephone: 867-668-6565, Fax: 867-668-6570
Email: bagnell.l@parl.gc.ca
=========================================
MPs Who Don't Support a Review
=========================================André Bachand (QUEBEC / Progressive Conservative)
Member of Parliament, Richmond—Arthabaska
Telephone: 819-357-7341, Fax: 819-357-7408
Email: bachand.a@parl.gc.caPaul Crête (QUEBEC / Bloc Québécois)
Member of Parliament,
Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques
Telephone: 418-868-1280, Fax: 418-868-1078
Email: crete.p@parl.gc.caHonourable Gilbert Normand (QUEBEC / Liberal)
Member of Parliament, Bellechasse—Etchemins—Montmagny—L'Islet
Telephone: 418-248-5818, Fax: 418-248-5944
Email: normand.g@parl.gc.caJocelyne Girard-Bujold (QUEBEC / Bloc Québécois)
Member of Parliament, Jonquière
Telephone: 418-542-1976, Fax: 418-542-1250
Email: girard-bujold.j@parl.gc.caMarlene Jennings (QUEBEC / Liberal)
Member of Parliament, Notre—Dame—de—Grâce—Lachine
Telephone: 514-489-8703, Fax: 514-489-2806
Email: Jennings.M@parl.gc.caLynn Myers (ONTARIO / Liberal)
Member of Parliament, Waterloo—Wellington
Telephone: 519-664-3195, Fax: 519-664-2940
Email: Myers.L@parl.gc.caCheryl Gallant (ONTARIO / Canadian Alliance)
Member of Parliament, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke
Telephone: 613-732-4404, Fax: 613-732-4697
Email: gallant.c@parl.gc.caPaddy Torsney (ONTARIO / Liberal)
Member of Parliament, Burlington
Telephone: 905-639-5757, Fax: 905-639-6031
Email: torsney.p@parl.gc.caBrian Fitzpatrick (SASKATCHEWAN / Canadian Alliance)
Member of Parliament, Prince Albert
Telephone: 306-953-8622, Fax: 306-953-8625
Email: Fitzpatrick.b@parl.gc.caJames Rajotte (ALBERTA / Canadian Alliance)
Member of Parliament, Edmonton Southwest
Telephone: 780-495-4351, Fax: 780-495-4485
Email: rajotte.j@parl.gc.ca______________________________________________
MEDICARE FACTOID:
Increase in total health spending as a
percentage of GDP for Canada from
1985 to 2000: 0.8 %Increase in prescription drug costs
in Canada from 1985 to 2000
(unadjusted): 344 %Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information
_____________________________________________
This Action Sheet is available electronically in PDF format on the
Canadian Health Coalition website:
<http://www.healthcoalition.ca/patent-action.PDF>