CCOHTA to Establish a Roster of Pharmaceutical Researchers

November 26, 2002

OTTAWA - The Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment (CCOHTA) has issued a request for expressions of interest from qualified individuals interested in conducting clinical or pharmacoeconomic reviews of new drugs on a contract basis.

Based on the expressions of interest, CCOHTA will establish a roster of pharmaceutical researchers to conduct drug reviews as part of the Common Drug Review (CDR). As announced by Canada's Health Ministers in September 2002, CCOHTA will oversee a common review process for new drugs on behalf of federal, provincial and territorial drug plans. This new process is expected to reduce duplication of effort among jurisdictions in the assessment of drugs and ensure that all participating plans have access to the same rigorously reviewed clinical and pharmacoeconomic information. The first reviews will be commissioned early in 2003.

CCOHTA's initial roster of reviewers will be based on expression of interest submissions by Friday, December 13, 2002.

For further information contact Kirk Fergusson: 613 226-2553 ext. 276