Canada’s generics org names new chair
The Candian Generic Pharmaceutical Association has a new chair. The Toronto-based organization unanimously elected Peter Hardwick, Apotex chief commercial officer and executive vice president, as its chair. Pharmascience COO Jean-Guy Goulet remains vice chair and Sandoz Canada president and general manager Michel Robidoux continues to be chair of the Board of Biosimilars Canada.
“The generic pharmaceutical industry and our partners in the supply chain are facing significant challenges to our sustainability in Canada,” Hardwick said. “Ensuring a stable, predictable market for our companies and the continued supply and introduction of cost-saving generic prescription medicines must remain our key focus.”
Hardwick’s role will involve implementing the five-year initiative between CGPA and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, as well as an agreement between CGPA and the government of Quebec.
“The recent agreements with pCPA and Quebec will provide billions of dollars in additional savings to Canada's health-care system,” Hardwick said. “As these significant further price discounts come into effect, we must work with governments and payers to put in place the regulatory and market environment that will ensure the continued and future supply of cost-saving generic medicines.”
Hardwick, who has been with Apotex since 2006 and has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, noted that generics prices have been reduced recently and that the organization’s work should now be focused on increasing their use.
“Many of the most widely prescribed generic drugs offer a massive 90 percent discount from the prices of the equivalent brand-name versions, but price doesn't matter if they're not being used,” he said. “We want to work with Canadians to implement strategies to increase the use of generic prescription medicines so that the savings provided by these lower prices can be fully realized.”
“The generic pharmaceutical industry and our partners in the supply chain are facing significant challenges to our sustainability in Canada,” Hardwick said. “Ensuring a stable, predictable market for our companies and the continued supply and introduction of cost-saving generic prescription medicines must remain our key focus.”
Hardwick’s role will involve implementing the five-year initiative between CGPA and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, as well as an agreement between CGPA and the government of Quebec.
“The recent agreements with pCPA and Quebec will provide billions of dollars in additional savings to Canada's health-care system,” Hardwick said. “As these significant further price discounts come into effect, we must work with governments and payers to put in place the regulatory and market environment that will ensure the continued and future supply of cost-saving generic medicines.”
Hardwick, who has been with Apotex since 2006 and has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, noted that generics prices have been reduced recently and that the organization’s work should now be focused on increasing their use.
“Many of the most widely prescribed generic drugs offer a massive 90 percent discount from the prices of the equivalent brand-name versions, but price doesn't matter if they're not being used,” he said. “We want to work with Canadians to implement strategies to increase the use of generic prescription medicines so that the savings provided by these lower prices can be fully realized.”