Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) is a national Canadian organization tasked with providing healthcare decision-makers with evidence-based information about the effectiveness and efficiency of health care technologies, including drugs, diagnostic tests, and medical devices. CADTH is an independent, not-for-profit agency that plays a critical role in the Canadian healthcare system by assessing the value of health technologies in comparison to existing treatments and by providing recommendations on their use in Canada.

History

CADTH was established in 1989 as the Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment (CCOHTA) to meet the growing need for credible, impartial advice on the effectiveness and efficiency of health technologies. In 2006, it was rebranded as the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health to reflect its expanded role in providing health technology assessments (HTAs) and related services to all Canadian healthcare decision-makers.

Mandate

The mandate of CADTH is to provide national leadership in health technology assessment and to support healthcare policy and decision-making in Canada through the provision of evidence-based information. CADTH aims to improve the health of Canadians by ensuring that the healthcare system uses effective, efficient, and appropriate technologies.

Services

CADTH offers a range of services, including:

• Health Technology Assessment: Comprehensive evaluations of the clinical, economic, social, and ethical implications of health technologies.
• Common Drug Review: Provides recommendations to the provinces and territories (except Quebec) on which drugs should be covered by public drug plans.
• Rapid Response Service: Offers timely evidence-based information to healthcare decision-makers to meet urgent needs.
• Optimal Use Projects: Provides recommendations and tools to help ensure that health technologies are used in the most effective and efficient way.
• Environmental Scanning: Identifies emerging health technologies that could have a significant impact on the Canadian healthcare system.

Impact

CADTH's work impacts various aspects of the Canadian healthcare system by:

• Informing policy and clinical practice decisions.
• Supporting the sustainability of the healthcare system by ensuring value for money.
• Enhancing patient outcomes by promoting the use of effective technologies.
• Encouraging innovation and the development of new technologies that meet real healthcare needs.

Governance

CADTH is governed by a Board of Directors, which includes representatives from federal, provincial, and territorial health departments, as well as members from the public. This governance structure ensures that CADTH's work is aligned with the priorities of the Canadian healthcare system and responds to the needs of its stakeholders.

Challenges and Future Directions

As the demand for new health technologies continues to grow, CADTH faces the challenge of evaluating an increasing number of technologies within the constraints of limited resources. Future directions for CADTH may include expanding its role in the assessment of emerging technologies, enhancing collaboration with other HTA agencies, and increasing stakeholder engagement to ensure that its recommendations are relevant and implemented effectively.