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When it comes to transparency on the subject of prescription drugs, the Star has found drug companies in Canada have influence over what information can be released to the public.

In this case, Health Canada was required to consult the morning sickness drug’s maker, Duchesnay, to help decide what should be kept from the doctor because it was deemed confidential business information.

And despite new drug safety legislation that empowers the health minister to disclose this kind of information to a doctor in some cases without a drug company’s permission, Health Canada says it is consulting with stakeholders on the issue, and further regulations may be required to define how and when this power is used.