Pharma

An update on national pharmacare, and five steps to get us there faster

The current state of our health system means viable alternative approaches are needed. Private plans are not perfect, and neither are provincial plans. But both payer groups need to better protect Canadians from ruinous drug costs.

History matters – a century after insulin’s discovery, we’re going backwards

As a Canadian with Type 1 diabetes I’m dismayed by the way pharmaceutical companies have driven up insulin prices, created a global oligarchy and increased the burden on those who need this life-giving medicine.

Episode 32 – Agitation in Dementia and Antiplatelet Therapy after Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Episode 31 – Tirzepatide and Bariatric Surgery on Cardiovascular Health

Episode 30 – SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists in Diabetes

The dangers of antimicrobial drug resistance must not be ignored

We are seeing an increase in dangerous microbes becoming resistant to antimicrobial drugs. To counter this threat, we must reduce our use of the drugs and explore innovative treatments that could one day replace them.

Are antiviral pills to treat COVID safe and effective?

Healthy Debate Editor-in-Chief Seema Marwaha answers your questions on the effectiveness, safety and limitations of new antiviral pills to treat COVID-19.

Health Canada’s controversial ‘regulatory sandbox’: Enabling innovation or lowering the bar for safety?

Health Canada has a controversial plan for regulating new, complex health tech. Instead of the old vetting and approval process, a company and the agency would decide the standards as they go. Does this enable innovation or put patient safety at risk?

Pharmacare reform pits affordability against access to novel drugs

For many Canadians, important pharmaceuticals are too expensive. But initiatives by the Trudeau government and a federal regulator to combat this problem won't help Canadians access new, life-saving, but costly medicines. Just the opposite.

Episode 26 – Rapid Fire Metabolic Syndrome!

Episode 23 – Rapid Fire!

Biopharmaceuticals, Financialization & Nationalism in the Age of COVID-19

Canada spent a lot of money on a COVID-19 therapeutic that has been a flop. The deal reflects the financialized state of drug development and the nation-state's failure to stop it.

Canadians paying the price for failed drug-pricing policy

Canadian patients, scientists and health systems are paying the price for this failed policy experiment, which is not what our country needs at this critical moment.

Vaccines, prices and a pandemic

If the government is serious about ensuring access to prescription drugs and vaccines to all, it must stand up to pressure from Big Pharma on pricing reforms.

The fascinating history of Trump’s ‘game-changing’ COVID cure

Hydroxychloroquine was touted as a miracle cure for COVID-19 by Trump, then finished 2020 plagued with concerns about adverse cardiac events. But HCQ is a remarkable medication with a fascinating history.

Episode 20 – Rapid Fire Cardiology!

Pharmacare: A prescription for addressing racism we can actually fill

Pregnant women warned to avoid some pain-relief drugs

Should biosimilar drugs be artificially promoted in Canada?

Be wary of ‘game-changers:’ Use drugs wisely and safely