Report - LifeSciences BC

Recommendations for an Improved Listing ProcessRecommendation One:Priority attention should be focused ondevelopment of an enhanced FormularyManagement System together withimproved stakeholder engagement andappeal mechanisms. This work shouldbe led by the Pharmaceutical ServicesDivision and include meaningfulengagement with stakeholders, includingpatients, healthcare professionals,disease specialists, research leaders andindustry.Recommendation Two:The Ministry of Health should act toestablish new target review/listingdecision guidelines with the goal ofsubstantially improving BritishColumbia's performance on time-tolistingdecisions. Progress on this frontmust be publicly reported andconsistently benchmarked against theperformance of other jurisdictions.Recommendation Three:The Drug Benefit Committee should bereconstituted as the “Drug BenefitCouncil” to more appropriately reflectthe arms length role it is expected tocarry out in the review processesapplicable to consideration of newtherapies.Recommendation Four:The Ministry of Health should establisha new Drug Review ResourceCommittee to carry out the drugsubmission review role currentlyperformed by the TherapeuticsInitiative. This new DRRC should alsoprovide for a registry of experts thatwill substantially widen the array ofexpertise available to offer advice andrecommendations on the therapeuticvalue and cost-effectiveness of newdrug therapies.Recommendation Five:The membership of the DBC shouldbe modified to include the participationof at least three public membersselected through a process external tothe PSD. Government may also wishto consider ensuring that at least onemember of the DBC has broadeconomic expertise to supplement theexisting expertise that is focused morenarrowly on health economics.Recommendation Six:No members of the TherapeuticsInitiative or, in the alternative, noparticipant in a Drug Coverage ReviewTeam should participate as members inthe work of the Drug Benefit Council.THE REPORT OF PHARMACEUTICAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH 14 APRIL, 2008