On March 17, 2020, the Quebec Government enacted Bill 31: An Act to amend mainly the Pharmacy Act to facilitate access to certain services.
In Quebec, drug manufacturers must be accredited in order to have their products listed on the RAMQ list of medications (and therefore covered by the public drug plan). Accredited manufacturers are not authorized to grant any benefits in connection with the sale or purchase of listed products, regardless of whether patients are covered by public or private plans.
Prior to the adoption of Bill 31, nothing prevented unaccredited drug manufacturers from granting benefits in connection with the sale or purchase of unlisted products to patients covered by private drug plans.
The adoption of Bill 31 closes this loophole and will now make it impossible for an unaccredited drug manufacturer to provide any benefits in connection with the sale or purchase of an unlisted product if an accredited manufacturer’s product with the same active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is listed on the list of medications.