Health Canada authorized two vaccines; the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by AstraZeneca, and developed in partnership with Oxford University, and, the Serum Institute of India’s version of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Health Canada received an application for authorization from AstraZeneca on October 1, 2020, and from Verity Pharmaceuticals Inc./Serum Institute of India (in partnership with AstraZeneca Canada … Read more
Health Minister Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay-Superior North, Ont.) tabled the 2019-2020 Canada Health Act Annual Report in Parliament. The report provides Canadians with an update on federal administration of the Act and a clear picture of how public health care insurance plans across the country operate. The report is developed by the federal government in collaboration with provincial and territorial … Read more
Health Canada issued a label change authorization to Pfizer-BioNTech to reflect that each vial of its COVID-19 vaccine contains six doses, rather than five. This follows an independent and thorough scientific review of a submission received from Pfizer-BioNTech on January 22, 2021. In its review, Health Canada determined that six full doses can be consistently obtained from … Read more
Health Minister Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay-Superior North, Ont.) announced the signature of a bilateral agreement with Prince Edward Island to expand virtual health care services for its residents. Through this bilateral agreement, PEI will receive nearly $3.5 million to expand their virtual health care services. The full release is available online. Call 613-957-0200.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay-Superior North, Ont.) announced the signature of a bilateral agreement with British Columbia to expand virtual health care services for its residents. Through this bilateral agreement, British Columbia will receive close to $18 million to further expand their virtual health care services. The full release is available online. Call 613-957-0200.
Liberal MP Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre, B.C.), joined by Sheila Malcolmson, British Columbia’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, announced more than $15 million in federal funding for four safer supply projects for people at risk of overdose in B.C. These projects will provide pharmaceutical-grade medication as an alternative to the toxic illegal supply in circulation. The four … Read more
To provide care to those struggling with drinking and alcohol use disorder, Health Minister Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay-Superior North, Ont.) announced federal funding of more than $1.5 million over three years to the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use to develop the first National Guideline for the Clinical Management of High-Risk Drinking and Alcohol Use Disorder. … Read more
All Canadians, especially patients with rare diseases and interested stakeholders, are invited to take part and share their views on what a National Strategy for High-Cost Drugs for Rare Diseases might look like. This feedback will help inform the strategy and ensure it helps patients get better access to the effective drugs they need. In … Read more
The Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Health issued the following statement: “Across Canada, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is built on a solid foundation of collaboration. We are witnessing this spirit in real time as front line workers, Indigenous partners, and federal, provincial and territorial governments are implementing vaccination campaigns of unprecedented scale … Read more
The COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel released its first report entitled, Priority Strategies to Optimize Testing and Screening for COVID-19 in Canada. The report provides evidence-based advice on science and policy for the latest techniques in COVID-19 testing and screening, including the use of rapid tests. The full release is available online. Call 613-957-0200.
