The Ontario government says it'll table legislation requiring public disclosure of payments by pharmaceutical and medical device companies to health professionals, a move that would make it the first province to do so. Health Minister Eric Hoskins says the move will empower patients by giving them tools and information to make more informed decisions about their own healthcare. The province had consulted with patient groups, healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical and medical device industries about payments such as speaking engagement fees, paid meals, and travel expenses. The legislation would require disclosure of the payments and create an online, searchable database of that information. The bill, the Strengthening Quality and Accountability for Patients Act, 2017, would also:
- Strengthen Ontario's quality and safety inspection program for long-term care homes with new enforcement tools, including financial penalties and new provincial offences for non-compliance;
- Allow paramedics to transport patients who call 911 to a non-hospital setting, such as a mental health facility, to better address their needs;
- Require operators of community health facilities and medical radiation devices (such as X-ray machines, CT scanners, ultrasound machines and MRIs) to obtain a licence and enhancing the enforcement tools available to inspectors, to improve patient safety; and
- Strengthen the oversight of diagnostic medical sonographers (those who use ultrasound) by introducing new legislation that would cover the entirety of the medical radiation and imaging technology profession.
Autres nouvelles:
L'Ontario améliore la transparence dans le domaine de la santé - Gouvernement de l'Ontario
Obliger les médecins à déclarer les « cadeaux » des compagnies pharmaceutiques - ICI Radio-Canada
Ontario bill would require disclosure of pharmaceutical payments to health professionals - CBC News
Ontario to force pharmaceutical companies to disclose money paid to doctors - The Globe and Mail (sub. req.)
Op-ed: Disclosure of pharma payments to doctors is a good first step - but it's not enough - The Globe and Mail (sub. req.)
Ontario bill will reveal drug company payments to doctors - Toronto Star
Drug companies would be forced to reveal payments to doctors under new Ontario legislation - National Post
B.C. 'looking at' following suit on Ontario bill for physician-payment disclosure - The Globe and Mail (sub. req.)