Ontario case highlights structural national access issues

Ottawa, October 6, 2026 - The Ontario government's response today to an Ontario melanoma patient denied out-of-country public coverage for a treatment that is Health Canada-approved but not yet publicly available in the province highlights a broader national problem that requires a national solution: slow access to new medicines and the chronic undervaluing of innovation.

It currently takes 35 months before a Health Canada-approved medicine becomes available to Canadians through public drug plans, versus five months in Germany, 16 months in France, 18 months in Sweden, and 19 months in the UK. As a result, Canada ranks last in the G7, and 19th out of 20 OECD countries, for public access to new medicines. Only 21 per cent of globally available medicines are reimbursed through Canadian public drug plans, compared with the OECD average of 29 per cent.  

Much of the delay comes from a multi-agency process to assess a medicine's value and price. The provinces and territories then independently decide if they can afford to list the medicine on their public drug plans. The result is long waits and wide inequities for new medicines across the country.

The federal Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Sector Task Force, which brought together industry, government, and the research community, was launched in March 2026 to find solutions to these structural challenges. Its July report made 39 recommendations to strengthen Canada's life science competitiveness and secure faster and more reliable access to medicines. It was candid about the stakes: "incremental change will not be sufficient to meet the moment." IMC could not agree more. Canadians should have access to new treatments as soon as Health Canada approves their safety and efficacy, not more than two years later.

Provinces and territories sit at the centre of healthcare delivery, funding, and access decisions. Yet they face significant fiscal pressures and strained health systems. Health was the largest expense for provincial, territorial, and local governments in 2024, representing over 34 per cent of spending - and federal health transfers have not kept pace with evolving needs.

Current U.S. drug policies like most-favoured nation (MFN) pricing, which aim to bring American drug prices down from the highest in the world to levels comparable to lower-priced countries like Canada, are adding additional pressure on already strained pharmaceutical systems.

Without the means to list more breakthrough medicines, the task force's recommendations cannot become progress for patients. That is why increased federal funding to provinces and territories, specifically for innovative medicines, is paramount.

The need for new medicines is urgent. Over 250,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer and over 87,000 will die from the disease in 2026. IMC and its members stand ready to work with governments to fix these structural challenges so patients can access the life-saving medicines they need, when they need them.

Quick Facts

• Pharmaceutical innovation between 2000 and 2022 reduced premature mortality in Canada by 49 per cent.
• Innovative medicines reduced hospital days in Canada by 55 per cent in 2022 alone, saving nearly $80 billion dollars in hospital costs.
• Every $1 invested in innovative medicines generates nearly $3 in economic value through quality jobs, labour income, and government revenue. 

About Innovative Medicines Canada

Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) is the voice of Canada's innovative pharmaceutical industry, representing over 40 member companies. It advocates for policies that enable the discovery, development, and delivery of innovative medicines and vaccines to improve the lives of all Canadians. IMC's members contribute $25 billion to the economy, support nearly 150,000 high-value jobs, and invest $3.5 billion in research and development. Guided by the Code of Ethical Practices, all IMC members work with governments, private payers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders in a highly ethical manner.

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