Incorporating Pharmacosurveillance in Provincial Drug Formulary Decision-Making

Provincial drug plan managers seek real-world evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of drugs and drug coverage policies. University-based researchers with access to routinely gathered health administrative data can help to meet these information needs. In this collaborative report, Ontario- and British Columbia-based researchers describe an effort to:

• Work with formulary decision makers in the two provinces to identify pharmacosurveillance information needs;
• Develop and refine techniques for producing such evidence; and
• Assess its impact upon formulary decision-making.