Health Council of Canada Presents Safe and Sound - a Symposium to Further Discussion on the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy

    MONTREAL, June 12 /CNW/ - The Health Council of Canada holds Safe and
Sound: Optimizing Prescribing Behaviours a two day conference on June 12 and
13 at the Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain Hotel to assemble and encourage
stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector to promote the aims and enable the
implementation of a National Pharmaceuticals Strategy (NPS).
    The symposium is intended to further discussion about the NPS with
particular emphasis on fostering action to influence the prescribing behaviour
of health care professionals so drugs are used only when needed and the right
drug is used for the right problem. The conference brings together experts and
stakeholders in pharmaceuticals including:

    -   Robyn Tamblyn, Symposium Chair, a Canadian Institutes Health Research
        Scientist and Professor at the McGill University Health Center
        Research Institute
    -   Lynn Weekes, Chief Executive Officer from the National Prescribing
        Service in Australia
    -   Jean-Pierre Gregoire, a Professor, Scientist, Dean of Pharmacy and
        Pharmacoepidemiology and former Director of the Population Health
        Research Unit at Laval University
    -   Jeremy Grimshaw, Director of the Clinical Epidemiology Program of the
        Ottawa Health Research Institute and a Professor at the University of
        Ottawa
    -   Anne Nguyen, a Clinical Assistant Professor with the Facility of
        Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia and a
        founding member of the Canadian Academic Detailing Collaboration
    -   Linda Wilhelm, an arthritis sufferer and member of the Canadian
        Arthritis Patient Alliance.

    Participation in the symposium is by invitation only to facilitate an
open and candid discussion. While the symposium is not open to the media,
experts are available for media interviews. The Health Council will develop a
summary report from the conference that will be posted on our website
www.healthcouncilcanada.ca in September.

    Background
    ----------
    The Health Council of Canada, created by the 2003 First Ministers' Accord
on Health Care Renewal following the recommendations of the Romanow and Kirby
reports, is mandated to monitor and report on the progress of health care
renewal in Canada. The 26 Councillors were appointed by the participating
provinces, territories and the Government of Canada and have expertise and
broad experience in community care, Aboriginal health, nursing, health
education and administration, finance, medicine and pharmacy.

For further information: and to coordinate interviews with conference
participants: Marta Marychuk, Health Council of Canada - Media Relations,
Phone (416) 480-7085, Cell (416) 428-8423, mmarychuk@healthcouncilcanada.ca