The pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance’s (pCPA) Board of Directors is excited to announce that Douglas Clark will become the first CEO of the newly incorporated organization, effective September 11, 2023.
Douglas Clark is the ideal person to lead the organization given his significant expertise at the helm of an independent organization governed by a board of directors in the pharmaceutical ecosystem. His vast experience will allow him to successfully lead the pCPA and take the organization to the next level. The pCPA Board members are looking forward to working alongside him in the years to come.
“I am thrilled to join the pCPA at this exciting and historic time,” said Douglas. “The establishment of the organization over a decade ago and its steady evolution into an independent body is a good news story that all Canadians can be proud of when it comes to the pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceuticals in this country. I believe strongly in the pCPA’s mandate and its immense potential for improving the health of Canadians and the sustainability of our public drug plans.”
Under Douglas’ leadership, the pCPA will focus on achieving the goals outlined in the current strategic plan and working with the Board to create a new strategic plan now that pCPA’s transition to an independent organization is complete. Douglas’ initial areas of focus will be to share more updates, formalize pathways to expedite negotiations, and collaborate with various public and private sector partners on initiatives that align with the organization’s strategic priorities.
With over a decade of experience as leader of a public sector agency, Douglas is well positioned to deliver on the pCPA’s strategic priorities. He was executive director of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) for nearly a decade. Before joining the PMPRB, Douglas served as assistant deputy commissioner with the Competition Bureau and before that as director of the Patent Policy Directorate at Innovation, Science and Economic Development. He is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick’s common law program and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1999. Douglas is fluent in both English and French, which will allow him to engage directly with stakeholders from across the country.
Douglas looks forward to working with industry, government, health system leaders, and other stakeholders to deliver on the pCPA’s mandate of improving the health of Canadians and preserving a sustainable publicly funded health system in Canada.