A pattern is emerging: the government studies an issue for more than a year, finds a solution that will improve access to medicines and lower costs, then cancels any real change when industry objects.

For now, Canada has left it to the victims of the opioid crisis to seek their own justice, which they have attempted to do through a class-action lawsuit.

A short list of medicines could actually help us save money by focusing competition on a small number of products, purchased in larger quantities.