HESA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Health met at 3:43 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, Bonnie Brown, presiding.

It was agreed, — That the Committee invite officials from the RCMP, Health Canada, the Department of Finance, the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Border Services Agency, to appear on either Wednesday, November 16 or on November 23, 2005, in order to brief members on the issues of compliance with the Tobacco Act and the 2001 Excise Act, cigarette smuggling and tobacco use; and that Members of the Standing Committees on Justice and Finance, also be invited to attend the meeting.

It was agreed, — That the Chair write a letter to the Minister of Health indicating that a motion was adopted in Committee on Thursday, October 6, 2005, urging him to temporarily stay the Scientific Advisory Panel on Breast Implants and its proceedings, to not make a decision or proceed until such time as the Minister has appeared before the Committee to address this issue.

Rob Merrifield moved, — That the Chair report to the House of Commons the intent of the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, October 6, 2005, on the issue of Breast Implants, urging the Minister of Health to temporarily stay the Scientific Advisory Panel and its proceedings, to not make a decision or proceed until such time as he has met with the Committee; and that concurrence in the report be sought by unanimous consent.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

On motion of Rob Merrifield, it was agreed, — That the Committee proceed to sit in camera.

At 4:30 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:38 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

• consult, analyse and recommend with respect to the overall system regarding prescription drug research and development, drug approvals, drug licensing, drug marketing (including prices), and drug surveillance;

• review the progress of the Common Drug Review process and its capacity for providing access to safe, effective, quality prescription drugs;

• consider mechanisms to ensure public input and access to information about the history of any drug’s approval, its safety and efficacy in the marketplace; and its post-market surveillance;

• examine relevant international experiences such as the United Kingdom system of patient and public involvement through the National Patient Safety Agency and the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, the European Medicines Agency efforts at public consultation and the United States Food and Drug Administration’s operation of MedWatch and consumer complaints coordination.

At 5:31 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.