Released on February 22, 2007
In a move to build more consistent cancer care across the country, a collaboration of provinces and territories is introducing a national, interim process for the review of cancer drugs. The Joint Oncology Drug Review will help ensure a more timely, effective and efficient review and evaluation of cancer drugs.
“With the increasing demand for cancer therapies and the rapid introduction of new, often high-cost oncology drugs, provinces and territories require a consistent, rigorous review of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these drugs,” Saskatchewan Health Minister Len Taylor said. “We are committed to developing a permanent national review process for oncology drugs.”
At the Council of the Federation meeting in July 2006, premiers agreed that all provinces and territories would work together to develop a national plan for oncology drugs. In September 2006, an oncology implementation team, with representatives from participating jurisdictions and co-led by Saskatchewan and Manitoba, was formed to develop the Joint Oncology Drug Review.
“Canadians want a system that provides access to cancer drug therapy that is not dependent on where they live,” Manitoba Health Minister Theresa Oswald said. “A national approach to more effectively manage the way oncology drugs are reviewed will streamline the process and is a first step toward more consistent decision-making by participating jurisdictions.”
Effective March 1, 2007, manufacturers of oncology drugs will make a single submission for review through Ontario’s Committee to Evaluate Drugs/Cancer Care Ontario. It will be considered a submission to all participating provinces and territories, though final coverage decisions will remain the responsibility of each jurisdiction.
“The interim process will ensure that all provinces and territories benefit from the same base of evidence and principles for making critical decisions about new cancer drugs,” Cancer Care Ontario President and CEO Terry Sullivan said. “This process will reduce duplication of effort, improve clarity for patients, health professionals and industry about how and why decisions are made, and contribute to a more consistent standard of cancer care across the country.”
The interim process will be in place for one year. During this time, participating provincial/territorial jurisdictions and other key stakeholders will be consulted as part of an independent evaluation of the Joint Oncology Drug Review. All participating governments will evaluate the success of the initiative before final implementation of a national program is begun.
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For more information, contact:
Joan Petrie
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: jpetrie@health.gov.sk.ca
