government

Antibiotic resistance is rapidly escalating and is a threat to us all. It is the "global warming" of medicine and just as energy consumption will necessarily continue, so will consumption of antibiotics. Resistance to antibiotics can't be completely "fixed" but must be actively managed - forever. As antibiotic consumption cannot be optimized by market distribution active regulatory control is the only option.

At present there are many uncoordinated levels of regulation of drug distribution in Canada. Federally, a new drug must be approved for sale by Therapeutic Products Directorate (TPD). Once approved (given a "notice of compliance" with regulations) a manufacturer can market the drug to prescribers however the central marketing effort is directed toward large governmental and third party payers. The vast majority of human drugs in Canada are payed for by these institutional drug plans. Each province and territory has their own drug plan and their are several large private plans that provide coverage to employees of private companies, unions members, government employees, and some individuals. The provincial drug plans vary widely in structure, eligibility, coverage, administration and means and levels of cost sharing.