Current Experience with Guidelines for Economic Evaluation in Canada

Based on an extensive process of wide consultation, Canadian guidelines for the economic evaluation of pharmaceuticals were developed and finalized in 1994. The guidelines have been adopted by the Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment for studies it conducts or funds. The 24 points of the guidelines are listed below and issues regarding some of the points are discussed. These guidelines, adopted in 1994, are already influencing study designs, but they are far from fully tested, and will continue to evolve.