Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Biologic medicines arrived on the Canadian market in the early 2000s and are among the costliest medicines ever sold. Many biologics are administered via injection or intravenous (IV) infusion and require close monitoring and follow up. To encourage their use, drug manufacturers set up networks of third-party, private infusion clinics and patient support programs. In this seminar, we will discuss the policy implications of pharmaceutical industry control over access to, delivery, and coordination of medication-related care for people prescribed high-cost, specialty medicines. Companies ultimately recuperate the cost of these services through the high prices of these drugs, which currently threaten the sustainability of public and private drug plans and pose a significant challenge to the realization of national pharmacare.

Download: Rounds Poster – Nov 10