Wednesday, May 05, 2004

Outcomes-Based Drug Coverage in British Columbia
Article in Health Affairs - "For the past decade the provincial drug plan in British Columbia has based the allocation of public subsidy on scientific standards of evidence. Coverage policies under B.C. PharmaCare are marked by the restriction of public subsidy until manufacturers provide valid evidence of a comparative health outcome advantage versus therapeutic alternatives. Implementing and maintaining such outcomes-based coverage policies has required a system of evidentiary review and support. Since 1994 the Therapeutics Initiative at the University of British Columbia has provided provincial decisionmakers with such support. We describe lessons from the B.C. experience for jurisdictions interested in basing coverage on evidence of proven comparative advantage for patients’ health."  
  

Mental health of youth in Ontario
Press release from the Centre on Addiction and Mental Health - "One in ten students report experiencing multiple (three or more) mental health issues including symptoms of depression and anxiety, problem drinking, other drug use and anti-social behaviour such as theft, vandalism or violence according to a study released today by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The Mental Health and Well-Being of Ontario Students Report, released during Mental Health Week, presents data from 2003, as well as trends from the past decade." Both the full report and an executive summary of the report is available in Adobe Acrobat format.