Extraordinary Use New Drugs (EUNDs) - Letter to Stakeholders Safe Medical Devices in Canada

Drugs and Health Products

Health Canada plays an active role in ensuring that you have access to safe and effective drugs and health products. The Department strives to maintain a balance between the potential health benefits and risks posed by all drugs and health products. Our highest priority in determining the balance is public safety.

Working together with other levels of government, health care professionals, patient and consumer interest groups, research communities and manufacturers, our department endeavours to minimize the health risk factors to you and maximize the safety provided by the regulatory system for these products.

We also strive to provide you with the information you need to make healthy choices and informed decisions about your health.

Health Canada is not a manufacturer or distributor of drugs and health products. We are the federal regulator. For additional drug information related to treatment options or where drugs or health products are sold, please contact your health professional or the individual company directly.

What is Available?

Health Canada is committed to providing timely access to sound, evidence-based information. We want to ensure that Canadians remain up-to-date on current developments and issues pertaining to drugs and health products in Canada.

Related Resources

• The Progressive Licensing Project has been initiated to develop a drug regulatory system for the future, and gives details of the plan for developing a new framework, and provides an opportunity for discussion with Canadians regarding drug licensing.
• Access to Therapeutic Products: The Regulatory Process in Canada. This publication describes how therapeutic products in Canada make their way from the laboratory to the marketplace.
• National Pharmaceuticals Strategy (NPS)
• Find more information about biotechnology-based health products in the Science and Research section of our Web site.
• Chemical Substances Portal
• Regulatory Review of Pharmaceuticals, Biologics and Medical Devices:
  • 2004 Annual Summary of Performance
  • 2005 Annual Summary of Performance