Government of Canada Takes Action to Protect Canadian Families

For immediate release -

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From left to right: Dr. Hartley Stern, Executive Director of the Jewish General Hospital, the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Dr. Samy Suissa, Director of the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology at the Lady Davis Institute and Dr. Roderick R. McInnes, Director of the Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital.

Montreal (October 31, 2011) – The Government of Canada today announced funding for the Canadian Network for Observational Drug Effect Studies (CNODES). This national research network will ensure that prescription drugs, verified by a vigorous process at Health Canada, are safe and effective for Canadian families.

"Our Government is committed to ensuring that prescription drugs are safe for Canadians," said the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, who made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health. "This network is another way we're making sure Canadians and their health care providers have the information they need to make informed decisions."

In creating the network, the Government of Canada is taking a leadership role to ensure all levels of government are working together to protect citizens. CNODES will bring together more than 60 researchers from centres across Canada to conduct independent research to confirm that drugs being prescribed to the public are effective and safe.

"Thanks to this Canada-wide all-star team, CNODES will be able to rapidly uncover otherwise undetectable risks and benefits of medications and thus help to safeguard the health of millions of Canadians who use them," explained Dr. Suissa, who will lead the network out of the Montreal Jewish General Hospital. Dr. Suissa is also Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Professor of Medicine at McGill University.

Researchers in the network will use healthcare databases maintained by provincial and territorial governments to evaluate the risks and benefits of drugs on the market in Canada. By studying data from across the country on adverse drug reactions, prescribing patterns and other factors, researchers will provide a national picture of the effect of drugs on the health of Canadians. The information generated will be distributed to physicians, patients and health care decision makers. CNODES is being funded through the Government's Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network.

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The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

Backgrounder

More Information:

Pierre Floréa, Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel, 613-991-0700
David Coulombe, CIHR Media Relations, 613-941-4563