Drug Access Advocacy

As more new, innovative targeted cancer treatments are being developed, drug access continues to be an incredibly important aspect of Rethink’s ongoing advocacy work. We continue working with other patient groups, coalitions and cancer organizations to call for system change and more efficiencies throughout the entire process of Canadian drug approval and reimbursement process.

At the same time, we collaborate with these various bodies involved by ensuring the voice and values of breast cancer patients are considered in their decision making. This includes submitting input into drug reviews conducted by Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA, formerly known as CADTH), the organization that reviews the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a drug and provides a recommendation to the public drug plans on whether or not a drug should be reimbursed for public funding.

Rethink conducts surveys and gathers the community’s direct feedback and experiences with the treatment under review. This includes in-depth patient profiles, where decision-makers can read the real stories of some in the breast cancer community and how these cancer drugs directly impact them.

Check out some of Rethink’s submissions to CDA below. And you can learn more about the drug approval process in Canada here.