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ARCHIVED - RPP 2006-2007
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board


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Section III - Supplementary Information

Organizational Information

Organizational Information

The Board consists of not more than five members who serve on a part-time basis, appointed by the Governor-in-Council, including a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. In June 2006, the Vice-Chairperson, Dr. Benoit, was appointed as Chairperson and Mary Catherine Lindberg was appointed Member and Vice-Chairperson for a 5 year term. At present one Board position remains vacant.

The Chairperson is designated under the Patent Act as the Chief Executive Officer of the PMPRB with the authority and responsibility to supervise and direct its work. The Executive Director manages the work of the staff. Senior staff consists of the Executive Director, the Director of Compliance and Enforcement, the Director of Policy and Economic Analysis, the Director of Corporate Services, the Secretary of the Board and Senior Counsel.

The Compliance and Enforcement Branch is largely responsible for the review of patented medicine prices and the Compliance and Enforcement Policy. The Policy and Economic Analysis Branch is largely responsible for conducting analyses and preparing reports on price trends and other economic studies. The Secretariat, Corporate Services Branch and Senior Counsel provide Board communications, administrative and legal support.

Table 1: Departmental Planned Spending and Full Time Equivalents

($ thousands) Forecast
Spending
2005-2006
Planned
Spending
2006-2007
Planned
Spending
2007-2008
Planned
Spending
2008-2009
Patented Medicine Prices Review        
Budgetary Main Estimates (gross) 4,373.0 6,512.011 6,480.011 4,948.013
Less: Respendable revenue        
Total Main Estimates 4,373.0 6,512.0 6,480.0 4,948.0
Adjustments:        
Second Governor General Special Warrants        
For work under the National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System and for the reporting of non-patented drug prices in Canada under the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy 370.0 - - -
Third Governor General Special Warrants        
For work under the National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System and for the reporting of non-patented drug prices in Canada under the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy 863.0 - - -
Other        
   Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) Year-end adjustment 18.3 - - -
Total Adjustments 1,251.3 - - -
Total Planned Spending 5624.3 6,512.0 6,480.0 4,948.0
         
Total Planned Spending 6,489.8 6,512.0 6,480.0 4,948.0
Less: Non-Respendable revenue (1,413.3)10 - - -
Plus: Cost of services received without charge 779.6 871.2 877.4 832.9
Net cost of Program 4,990.6 7,383.2 7,357.4 5,780.9
 
Full Time Equivalents 45.0 48.012 47.012 39.013

 

Table 2: Program Activities

2006-2007
($ thousands) Budgetary    
Program Activity Operating Gross Respendable
Revenue
Net Total Main Estimates Total Planned Spending
Patented Medicine Prices Review 6,512.0 6,512.0   6,512.0 6,512.0 6,512.0
Total 6,512.0 6,512.0   6,512.0 6,512.0 6,512.0

 

Table 3: Voted and Statutory Items listed in Main Estimates

2006-2007
($ thousands)
Vote or Statutory Item Truncated Vote or Statutory Wording 2006-2007
Main Estimates
2005-2006
Main Estimates14
25 Program expenditures 5,800.0 3,848.0
(S) Contributions to employee benefit plans 712.0 525.0
  Total Agency 6,512.0 4,373.0

 

Table 4: Services Received Without Charge

($ thousands) 2006-2007
Accommodation provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) 590.0
Contributions covering employers' share of employees’ insurance premiums and expenditures paid by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (excluding revolving funds) Employer’s contribution to employees’ insured benefits plans and expenditures paid by TBS 281.2
2006-2007 Services received without charge 871.2

 

Table 5: Sources of Non-Respendable Revenue

Non-respendable Revenue
($ thousands ) Forecast
Revenue
2005-2006
Planned
Revenue
2006-2007
Planned
Revenue
2007-2008
Planned
Revenue
2008-2009
Patented Medicine Prices Review
Source of non-respendable revenue
       
Voluntary Compliance Undertakings 1,413.315 - - -
Total Non-respendable Revenue 1,413.3 - - -

1 The reduction in the estimated planned spending and FTEs for 2008-2009 is due to the expiration of the Memorandum of Understanding between the PMPRB and Health Canada to fund the PMPRB's work under the NPDUIS and a reduction in funding the PMPRB received to enhance its price review process through Health Canada's Therapeutic Access Strategy. It is expected that new funding arrangements will have been negotiated prior to the expiration of the current MOU.

2 The reduction in the number of FTEs for 2007-2008 is due to a reduction in funding provided through a Memorandum of Understanding between the PMPRB and Health Canada for the PMPRB to monitor and report on prices of non-patented prescription drugs.

3 A summary of the Excessive Price Guidelines is available in Section II page 16 of this Report. Additional information on the Guidelines can be found in Chapter 1 of the Compendium of Guidelines, Policies and Procedures which is available on the PMPRB website: www.pmprb-cepmb.gc.ca, under Legislation, Regulations, Guidelines.

4 Additional information on the criteria for commencing an investigation can be found in Schedule 5 of the Compendium of Guidelines, Policies and Procedures which is available on the PMPRB website: www.pmprb-cepmb.gc.ca, under Legislation, Regulations, Guidelines.

5 The reduction in the estimated planned spending and FTEs for 2008-2009 is due to the expiration of the Memorandum of Understanding between the PMPRB and Health Canada to fund the PMPRB's work under the NPDUIS and a reduction in funding the PMPRB received to enhance its price review process through Health Canada's Therapeutic Access Strategy. It is expected that new funding arrangements will have been negotiated prior to the expiration of the current MOU.

6 The reduction in the number of FTEs for 2007-2008 is due to a reduction in funding provided through a Memorandum of Understanding between the PMPRB and Health Canada for the PMPRB to monitor and report on prices of non-patented prescription drugs.

7 The PMPRB has no authority over the prices of non-patented drugs, including generic drugs sold under compulsory licenses, and does not have jurisdiction over prices charged by wholesalers or retailers or over pharmacists' professional fees. Also, matters such as distribution and prescribing are outside the purview of the PMPRB.

8 IMS Health, Canadian Health and Pharmacy Audit

9 See the PMPRB's A description of the Laspeyres Methodology used to construct the Patented Medicine Price Index (PMPI), March 1997, revised June 2000, for a detailed explanation of the PMPI. The PMPI measures the overall change in the prices of existing patented drug products, and is constructed by taking a sales-weighted average of rates of price change at the level of individual products. It is not designed to measure the effects of changes in the quantities of drugs consumed or substitution among drugs (for example, the use of newer drugs in place of older, and possibly less costly drugs) on sales. As of the 1999 Annual Report, the PMPI encompasses prices of patented drugs for human use only.

10 The money reported as non-respendable revenue does not represent revenues generated by the PMPRB. This money is a result of payments made by patentees to the Government of Canada through Voluntary Compliance Undertakings (VCUs) or Board orders to offset excess revenues. In 2005-2006 the Board accepted 5 VCUs. Additional information on VCUs is available on the website: www.pmprb-cepmb.gc.ca, under Publications, Voluntary Compliance Undertakings.

11 The Treasury Board Ministers have approved supplementary funding of $5.1 million for fiscal years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 for the PMPRB to conduct public hearing and modernize the Excessive Price Guidelines. In 2007-2008 the PMPRB will seek approval to revise its permanent funding to reflect ongoing operational needs.

12 The increase in the number of FTEs for 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 is a result of additional resources provided through a Memorandum of Understanding between the PMPRB and Health Canada for the PMPRB to monitor and report on prices of non-patented prescription drugs.

13 The reduction in the estimated planned spending and FTEs for 2008-2009 is due to the expiration of the Memorandum of Understanding between the PMPRB and Health Canada to fund the PMPRB's work under the NPDUIS and a reduction in funding the PMPRB received to enhance its price review process through Health Canada's Therapeutic Access Strategy. It is expected that new funding arrangements will have been negotiated prior to the expiration of the current MOU.

14 The reduction in estimated total planned spending and full-time equivalents for 2005-2006 is a result of the fact that funding arrangements for NPDUIS had not been finalized beyond 2004-2005. Continued funding for NPDUIS was approved in 2006-2007.

15 The money reported as non-respendable revenue does not represent revenues generated by the PMPRB. This money is a result of payments made by patentees to the Government of Canada through Voluntary Compliance Undertakings or Board orders to offset excess revenues. The Minister of Health may enter into agreements with any province respecting the distribution to that province of amounts received by the Receiver General, less any costs incurred in relation to the collection and distribution of those amounts.