John Cummins, M.P. Delta-South Richmond

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 1997

Minister Queried If Action Taken Against Mefloquine Manufacturer
Safety Monitoring Study Incomplete

OTTAWA--John Cummins, M.P. (Delta South Richmond) today questioned what action the Minister of Health as what action he had taken to enforce the Food and Drug Act in regard to the failure to the manufacturer of mefloquine to complete the pre-licensing clinical study of the drug:

Mr. John Cummins (Delta-South Richmond): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. Canadian troops in Somalia were administered the experimental drug mefloquine. DND got the antimalarial drug because it agreed to participate in a Safety Monitoring Study. It ignored its commitment.

Has the Minister taken any action against either the manufacturer who is responsible for supervising the Safety Monitoring Study or the military who acted illegally in prescribing the drug?

Hon. Allan Rock (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, the facts are not yet clear. As the member should know, efforts are being undertaken at the moment to determine the facts of the matter.

I can tell the hon. member that at the time the drug was put in use, those responsible for supplying it believed on the evidence at the moment and in good faith that it was appropriate for the indicated conditions.

The responsible thing to do is to await the outcome of the investigations which, as the hon. member should know, are continuing.

Mr. John Cummins (Delta-South Richmond): Mr. Speaker, the facts were clear at the time the drug was administered and it was clear there was a problem. DND participation in the Safety Monitoring Study would have alerted Health Canada of the sometimes intolerable side effects of the drug mefloquine which were well documented at the time by Canadian military doctors.

Can the Minister tell the House why his Department did not insist that DND participate fully in the Safety Monitoring Study before licensing mefloquine for general use by Canadians?

Hon. Allan Rock (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, hindsight affords the hon. member the luxury of characterizing the facts as he sees fit. As I have already said, investigations are continuing to determine all the facts of the matter. I think the responsible thing to do is to wait until all the facts are at hand before coming to any judgment.

Source: Hansard, October 20, 1997, page 832.

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For more information, please contact:

John Cummins, M.P.
(613) 992-2957 or (604) 940-8040