Consultation Policy

I. Policy

The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board is committed to consult on the way it conducts its business and on opportunities to improve both its operations and its relations with stakeholders.

This Consultation Policy is designed to reflect the values of transparency and public accountability and to encourage and facilitate input from all stakeholders.

II. Purpose

To establish a framework, guiding principles, and service standards to govern public consultations by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board.

III. Background

The Board has traditionally consulted on major aspects of its operations such as the Guidelines on excessive price and patent dedication. These consultations have taken many forms: written comments by way of Notice and Comment, informal exchanges, public hearings, a working group in the case of the amendments to the Guidelines, questionnaires, bulletin boards and conferences.

IV. Our Approach to Consultation

The Board considers consultation an important part of the way it does business. Effective consultation should ensure that stakeholders are aware of and have opportunities to comment on activities that may affect them. Such an approach supports an open and transparent decision-making process which allows for meaningful public input.

In addition to the principles of openness and transparency, effective consultations are based on integrity and mutual respect. Consultation is a key part of the Board's operations and requires good planning, research, analysis, advice, feedback and an ongoing commitment of human and financial resources.

V. The Objectives of Consultation

• to facilitate input and feedback from stakeholders and the public on the Board's activities.
• to ensure that the Board is able to take into consideration the views of all stakeholders in making policy decisions.
• to facilitate an ongoing exchange of information and feedback among the Board, its stakeholders and the public.

VI. Guiding Principles

The following principles will be applied to the Board's consultations.

• Building relationships and trust:
  The PMPRB, as a fundamental part of its operational focus, consults on a regular basis with its stakeholders. To give effect to this, the PMPRB must therefore not only consult but also be seen to consult.
• Enhancing openness:
  The PMPRB's consultation activities reflect transparency and accountability through inclusiveness, accessibility, consistency of message and process, and feedback.
• Ensuring an effective process:
  Establishing clear roles and responsibilities is critical to effective consultations. A solid, mutual understanding of the issues, objectives, purpose and expectations of all parties is also essential. To facilitate consultations, the PMPRB is committed to the service standards set out below.
• Linking consultation and operation planning:
  The results of the consultations will be integrated into the planning process of the Board in terms of strategic and operational considerations and the development of future consultation plans.
• Adhering to high quality and performance standards:
  As part of the evaluation process, the PMPRB is committed to a continuous review of its consultative efforts and to assess, based on current best practices, opportunities to enhance its consultations.

VII. Service Standards

• The Board's consultation plans will allow sufficient preparation time for meaningful participation by stakeholders.
• For each consultation initiative, the Board will develop a plan including these elements:
  • Identify the objectives of the specific consultation.
  • Develop an action plan setting out roles and responsibilities, both internally and with stakeholder participants.
  • Ensure that the values, interests, knowledge and contribution of participants are taken into consideration.
  • Identify in advance what information will be needed to support the consultation process and how this will be shared with stakeholders.
  • Determine how communications will be managed before, during and after the consultation process.
  • Identify evaluation and feed-back mechanisms.
• Progress reports and the results of the consultations will be shared with stakeholders in a timely fashion and summarized in the NEWSletter, Annual Report and other publications as appropriate.

VIII. Methods of Consultation

To facilitate consultations with the various stakeholders and to promote accessibility and transparency, the Board will draw on a range of mechanisms as may be most appropriate in the circumstances. These include:

• Discussion Paper: an analysis or report which raises questions and invites responses, usually in writing, within established time lines.
• Notice and Comment: a published proposal for a change to policy or guidelines with a request for written comments within established time lines.
• Working Groups: groups of experts representing key stakeholders, ordinarily on more technical or complex issues, to report conclusions and recommendations to the Board.
• Public Policy Hearing: a public hearing by the Board to allow stakeholders to present or explain their views directly to the Board.
• Stakeholders Meeting: with representatives of all major stakeholder groups to consult directly with the Board on broader issues of policy.
• Public Meetings: meetings of Board members that are open to the public.

IX. Enquiries and Comments

All enquiries and comments on the Consultation Policy should be addressed to the Director of the Board Secretariat and Communications: