Young pleads with B.C. to maintain funding for drug watchdog By David Leasaved countless lives by advisingB.C. government to reverse this Health Canada to weaken safety proper safety warnings in plainOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFphysicians and pharmacists not todecision.standards for approvals and then language when they get a prescrip-prescribe medications, which itTo accomplish this task Young they pressure provinces to pay for tion drug, and making sure doc-found could cause death or injurytravelled to B.C. late last month and unsafe and expensive new drugs. tors are not influenced by theOakville MP Terence Young is even when take as prescribed.joined forces with Liberal MP for Its time to put a stop to this abuse pharmaceutical industry to pre-calling on the British Columbia Young said this is more than justVancouver South Ujjal Dosanjh and and get back to putting health pro-scribe their drugs.government not to throw away an an issue for the people of B.C., butNDP MP for Nanaimo-Cowichan tection ahead of profit-making.Young said there is no shortageinstitution, which he says, is vital to affects all of Canada because of Jean Crowder in petitioning the As the B.C. government shows of reasons to make this agency aensuring prescription drug safety something called the CommonB.C. government.no signs of abandoning its posi-reality as prescription medicationsacross Canada.Drug Review.The B.C. government has said tion, despite the petitioning of the used in hospitals are currently theThe B.C. government has cut the At this review representativesthe Therapeutics Initiative can three MPs, Young is taking addi-fourth leading cause of death inannual funding of the internation-from all the provinces in Canadareceive additional funding provided tional steps to secure drug safety in North America.ally acclaimed drug watchdog, the come together to discuss whatthey apply for it and the govern-Canada, introducing a private He said that since 1997, 22 pre-Therapeutics Initiative, reducing its drugs will be purchased for theirment approves what the funding is members bill in April of 2009 to scription medications, which$1 million budget by $450,000.provincial drug plans.going towards.create a new independent drug Health Canada and the pharma-For Young, who lost his 15-year-Private drug plans also look toThats putting a choke chain on agency.ceutical industry said were safe,old daughter Vanessa to a heart the results of the Common Drugthese scientists who have already This agency would deal with have been pulled from the marketarrhythmia he believes was causedReview to decide what drugs theyproven themselves, said Young.such issues as integrity in drug for killing or injuring theirby the prescription drug she was will be purchasing.Young alleges the presence of research, making sure patients get patients.taking at the time, the cutbacks areYoung said a good portion of thepharmaceutical industry represen-incomprehensible.information the Common Drugtatives on the advisory board to the The Therapeutics Initiative is Full Delivery: Review uses to make its decisionsB.C. health minister is the real rea-extremely important, its a Canadian Rona, Shopping Newscomes from the Therapeuticsson behind the funding cuts.jewel, said Young. It should have Partial Delivery:Initiative.They are now advising the B.C. its funding doubled instead of cut.Sport Chek, JYSK,Golf Town,InsidePeoples Jewellers, Q.S.I.,The decision by the Campbellgovernment what studies should be Established in 1994 by the Home Depot, Staples Businessgovernment to cut the TIs coredone, said Young. So youve really University of British ColumbiasOpinion............................................6funding by almost half is jeopardiz-got the fox in the chicken coup.Department of Pharmacology and Artscene.........................................21For home delivery & customer service call (905) 845-9742 ing the groups survival and abilityCrowder echoed these senti-Therapeutics and Department of Wheels............................................15Mon., Tues. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Thu., and Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m.(open for calls only after 5 p.m.) Closed Sat. and Sun. NEW to continue all of its importantments.Family Practice, the Therapeutics Sports.............................................26SUBSCRIPTIONS call (905) 845-9742 or subscribe online @ work, including in the drug assess-Whats happening in B.C. is www.oakvillebeaver.comInitiative provides physicians and Classified.......................................28ment process, said Young. Thispart of a broader campaign by the pharmacists with up-to-date, evi-will no doubt result in preventablepharmaceutical industry to get dence-based, practical information deaths from dangerous use of newdangerous new drugs to market Speak up! To comment on any story in today'son prescription drug therapy.prescription drugs, so I urge theOakville Beaver visit oakvillebeaver.comfaster, he said. 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