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Ontario Funding Accelerated for Specific Treatments (FAST)


The FAST program announced last year if finally active in 2026 with six cancer drugs approved "fast-track". We are still trying to determine why patients in Ontario had to wait longer than patients elsewhere for the same drugs. How much time exactly has this program saved? Based on public information, in Canada, patients typically wait up to two years for new publicly funded medicines. So does the program bring Ontarians back to the same level as citizen from other jurisdictions? At least its intent and design is to do so. What this program does effectively is: it allows Ontario to fund certain cancer drugs before national pricing negotiations are finalized. So, this begs the question: are the delays at the federal level? This program is estimated to be able to process 7 to 10 drugs a year and the program is a 3-year pilot project. It is a commendable first step and will unavoidably, help patients. However, let's look at the core problems that affect the healthcare system. One example of problem is underlined by the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD): "only 60 per cent of treatments for rare disorders [orphan drugs] make it into Canada". From 2011 to 2023, the FDA approved 542 new drugs. Seventeen of the drugs that were initially approved were later discontinued, the manufacturers submitted applications for 11 drugs to Health Canada but withdrew the applications before a decision was made and four drugs were still being reviewed by Health Canada as of late 2025. That leaves 510 drugs that could potentially have been approved in Canada. A total of 376 (that is 73.7 per cent) were approved by Health Canada and 134 (26.3 per cent) were never submitted.


Out of 51 FDA-approved drugs, (two more were discontinued), Health Canada approved 36 (70.6 per cent), contrary to the Fraser Institute’s shocking claim of only 40 per cent. More drugs are likely to be approved in Canada after the agency finishes collecting data. During the 2011 to 2023 period, the FDA approved 273 new orphan drugs, of which Health Canada approved 197 (72.2 per cent) for the same conditions, not the 60 per cent claimed by CORD. 


Here is the comparison table:

Figure / Statistic

FDA (United States)

Health Canada (Canada)

Notes / Time Period

Median review time (standard new drugs)

~9–10 months (often 10 months goal)

~9–12 months (often 300 days target)

PDUFA goals vs. standard NDS; varies by year

Median review time (priority review)

6 months goal (faster for oncology)

180 days target (6 months)

Priority/accelerated paths

Median lag: HC approval after FDA

N/A (often first)

346–371 days (~11–12 months)

For drugs approved in both; 2019–2025 data

Average lag: FDA earlier than HC

N/A

636 days (median 371 days) for overlapping drugs

2019/20–2024/25 (194 drugs)

Approval rate of FDA-approved drugs

N/A

~70–74% overall; 70.9% for orphan indications

1999–2022 (orphan); ~73% 2011–2023 overall

Orphan drugs: FDA approvals

273 (2011–2023 period example)

197 approved (~72.2%) for same indications

2011–2023; many not submitted to HC

Orphan drugs: % approved by HC

N/A

70.9% (231 of 326 FDA orphan drugs)

1999–2022; median lag 346 days

Oncology drugs: typical approval lag

Often fastest

~12 months from submission; lags FDA

Submission-to-approval often longer in HC

Overall drugs approved by both agencies

Higher volume; first in many cases

~70–76% of potentially submittable FDA drugs

2011–2023; delays often due to late submission

Post-approval public access delay (Canada-specific)

Quicker private/market access

Adds 1–2+ years (pCPA negotiations + provincial)

Beyond regulatory approval


We support policies that improve healthcare quality in Canada. This Ontario program appears promising, and we remain concerned that the federal government preserves a too high level of red tape that turns away drug suppliers from the country. The figures from CORD are more accurate than those from the Fraser Institute, but the true figures still raise questions. References:



 
 
 

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