What are the reasons a new drug or indication might not be approved for funding?
The decision about whether to fund both oral and intravenous cancer drugs, as with any drug, is based on the degree of medical benefit each provides, weighed against overall cost. There are many reasons a new drug or indication may not receive funding approval. Several reasons for non-approval include: a lack of high-quality evidence of its effectiveness; the drug’s medical benefit might be marginal; the drug may not offer enough of a benefit over treatments that are already available; the potential dangers or side effects of the drug may outweigh its benefits; or the drug may not provide enough of a benefit to make its cost worthwhile. Ontario’s drug review process is in place to ensure that drug funding decisions are made (and Ontarians’ health care dollars are spent) responsibly and equitably. And that decisions are based on the best available evidence on a drug’s effectiveness and cost effectiveness.
