Category: Canada

Health Canada Department overview Jurisdiction Canada Employees 11,223 (March 2020) Annual budget $3.9 billion (2021–22) Ministers responsible Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Carolyn Bennett, Associate Minister of Health and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Who owns Health Canada? Canada has a decentralized, universal, publicly funded health system called Canadian Medicare. Health […]

Under the constitution of Canada, the provinces have the primary jurisdiction over health care. As a consequence, provincial governments are mainly responsible for the financing and administering of public health care in Canada. Which level of government is responsible for public health? State StatesState. States are the principal governmental entity responsible for protecting the public’s […]

A Drug Identification Number (DIN) is a computer-generated eight digit number assigned by Health Canada to a drug product prior to being marketed in Canada. How do I find my drug identification number? The drug identification number (DIN) is the 8 digit number located on the label of prescription and over-the-counter drug products that have […]

Abstract. BACKGROUND: In all Canadian provinces, physicians can decide to either bill the provincial public system (opt in) or work privately and bill patients directly (opt out). What happens if a province does not adhere to the Canada Health Act? 20 (1) Where a province fails to comply with the condition set out in section […]

Canada has signed onto international drug conventions requiring countries to criminalize non-medical drugs. However, they do not require possession of drugs for personal use to be a crime. What are the current drug laws in Canada? Under decriminalization, drug possession, consumption, production, and distribution are legally prohibited even if criminal penalties for these activities are […]

Class IV: High-risk devices such as pacemakers and surgically invasive devices that diagnose, control, or correct a defect in the central cardiovascular system. The device manufacturer, importer, or distributor is responsible for classifying the device. What is a Class IV medical device in Canada? (2) A surgically invasive device that is intended to diagnose, monitor, […]

Regulating GM foods in Canada Health Canada has been assessing GM foods for more than 20 years. How is GMO regulated in Canada? The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) is used as a “catch-all” to regulate GM products that fall outside the responsibilities of other agencies. CEPA covers the environmental assessment of genetically modified animals […]

Supplement to a New Drug Submission (SNDS) is a supplement application submitted to Health Canada to notify changes that have substantial potential to have an adverse effect on the identity, strength, quality, purity, or potency of a drug product. What is a supplemental new drug submission? Abbreviated New Drug Submission (ANDS) ANDS is an application […]

Despite the lack of criminal sanction, the question remains: can you get fired for consuming marijuana or cannabis use at work? In Ontario, the short answer is “yes”. Is it illegal to be high at work Canada? Cannabis use at work. Ontario prohibits smoking or vaping cannabis for a recreational or medical purpose in an […]

Medical devices are classified according to Health Canada’s risk-based system. There are four device classifications–Class I, II, III and IV–using a set of 16 rules found in Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Canadian Medical Devices Regulations (CMDR) SOR/98-282. What is a Class 3 medical device in Canada? Invasive Devices (3) A surgically invasive device […]