In 1964, when Chief Justice Emmett Hall and his 6 colleagues completed the 2-volume report that would prove to be the prequel to Canada's first national medicare system, he produced 200 recommendations.
Some of Justice Hall's proposals now seem quaint. For instance, one asked that “centres for treatment of cleft palate cases be established in children's hospitals and in general hospitals [when possible].”
However, some that fell by the wayside 39 years ago have been given a new lease on life in Building on Values, Roy Romanow's long-awaited Royal Commission report on the future of Canada's health care system.
Hall: “That the Food and Drug Directorate … prepare and issue a National Drug Formulary which would be maintained on a current basis.”
Romanow: “Establish a national formulary of prescription drugs to provide consistency across the country, ensure objective assessments of drugs, and contain costs.”
Hall: “That the Federal Government contribute grants to the provinces (50 per cent of the cost of the programme) for the purpose of introducing a Prescription Drug Benefit within the Health Services Programme.”
Romanow: That a proposed new catastrophic drug transfer “be used to reduce disparity across the country by covering a portion of the rapidly growing costs of provincial and territorial drug plans.”
Hall: “That subsidies chargeable to the Health Services Programme be used to attract physicians to rural areas.”
Romanow: “The Rural and Remote Access Fund should be used to attract and retain health care providers.”
Hall: “That Section 41(3) of the Patent Act be amended to extend compulsory licensing [of drugs] …”
Romanow: “The federal government should immediately review the pharmaceutical practices related to patent protection …” — Patrick Sullivan, CMAJ