CCOHTA awards $1.6 million for HTA Capacity Building Grants
March 31, 2005
OTTAWA — The Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment ( CCOHTA ) has awarded $1.6 million in grants to support innovative projects that will build capacity to conduct and apply health technology assessments (HTAs) across Canada , CCOHTA president and CEO Dr. Jill Sanders announced today.
“Decision makers need the very best evidence-based information available to support policy decisions that will maximize health care quality for Canadians,” said Sanders. “The focus of this year’s grants program is to build new HTA capacity and increase the resources available for this critical activity.”
A new partnership stream was established to provide support for projects that bring together organizations that have experience and expertise in HTA, with organizations that need assistance in developing these skills.
CCOHTA ’s HTA Capacity Building Grants Program provides support to provincially based, non-profit health care or health research organizations, or to educational institutions with an established health technology assessment capability. In addition to the new partnership stream, grants were awarded in HTA methods and workshops/educational program streams. CCOHTA has awarded a total of $3.2 million in grants to support HTA projects throughout Canada since the program was created in 2004.
Of the 55 proposals received, 16 projects were approved for funding, ranging from a partnership to develop and implement a joint HTA unit by two university hospital networks, to a review of when and how to update systematic reviews, to developing an interactive HTA education program for health care practitioners. The approved projects contribute to increased HTA capacity, meet the objectives of the grant stream and overall program, and best support CCOHTA in fulfilling its mandate.
“The diversity and quality of the selected projects will most certainly expand Canada ’s capacity to conduct HTAs and increase the quality and applicability of these products,” said Sanders. “Our expectation is that the organizations funded this year will be able to contribute to building new HTA capacity, as well as providing mentorship and guidance in strengthening and expanding HTA knowledge and expertise through partnerships, educational programs and improved methodologies.”
Summaries of funded projects are available on CCOHTA ’s website at www.ccohta.ca. All projects must be completed by March 31, 2006 , with the exception of two-year partnership grant awards which must be completed by March 31, 2007 .
About CCOHTA
CCOHTA is a primary source for unbiased, evidence-based information on drugs, devices, health care systems and best practices. Canadian health care decision makers rely on CCOHTA to help them make well-informed health technology choices. CCOHTA is funded by Canadian federal, provincial and territorial governments. Formed in 1989 to assess medical devices, CCOHTA has evolved into a comprehensive Canadian source for evidence-based health technology information. Our scope includes health technology assessment, the clinical and cost-effectiveness of new drugs, and best practices in drug prescribing and use in Canada .
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For further information, please contact:
Kirk Fergusson
Director, Communications
Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment
Tel: (613) 226-2553 ext. 276