Given spiraling health costs there is a questioning of the benefits versus the cost of all medications and especially expensive new therapeutics before including them on formulary lists. Provincial formularies wield an increasing influence on doctor prescribing patterns and private formularies in hospitals and health insurance companies. Many of the most promising developments in biotechnology involve new tools for diagnosing diseases earlier and more accurately. The new genetic screening technologies for detecting inherited diseases in patients and their families fall into this category. These are also regulated by Health Canada.
Gene therapy involves altering genetic material to treat disease.
There are many unresolved medical and technical issues, such as whether genetic alterations in one individual could then be passed on to subsequent generations. Canada currently has no regulations covering human tissue, and is considering the need for legislation. Researched, written and produced by Stephanie Yanchinski in consultation with the TBI Public Interest Forum.