This edition of Access Delayed, Access Denied is the Fraser Institute?s sixth annual report measuring delays in the approval of new drugs by Health Canada and rates of coverage for new drugs under provincial public drug plans, relative to private-sector drug plans.Key findings

• On average, Canadians wait over two years for access to new drugs because of federal delays in approving them and provincial delays in authorizing reimbursement.
• Health Canada took longer to approve new medicines than the European Medicines Agency in all five years studied?2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
• Health Canada took longer to approve new medicines than the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in six of the last seven years studied?2004 to 2010.
• On average, only 23% of the new drugs that Health Canada certified as safe and effective between 2004 and 2010 have been declared eligible for reimbursement under provincial public drug programs as of January 1st, 2012.
• Private-sector drug insurance plans have provided reimbursement for 84% of new drugs approved by Health Canada from 2004 to 2010 (as of January 1st, 2012), and have covered them more rapidly than public drug insurance.