Evolving the Patient Group Input Process in Drug Reimbursement Reviews

Enhancing how we involve patient organizations and people with lived experience in our work is a key ambition at Canada’s Drug Agency. As part of our continuous improvement efforts, we are launching a new initiative that aims to evolve our approach to incorporating the patient voice in our drug reimbursement reviews.

Partnership remains a key guiding principle for Canada’s Drug Agency, and we continue our work to cultivate meaningful relationships with patient communities to strengthen the quality and significance of our work.

Information Session and Upcoming Feedback Opportunity

To launch this new initiative, we invite patients and representatives from patient organizations to register for the upcoming Webinar for Patient Groups: Evolving Patient Group Input in Drug Reimbursement Reviews  on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Michelle Gibbens (Director, Engagement) and members of her team will discuss the current role of patient input and future considerations and will seek insights on how we may evolve our processes.

Following the webinar, we will open a feedback period for patient organizations. Canada’s Drug Agency is committed to ensuring that the patient voice is integrated across our drug reimbursement review process, and we will be gathering insights from the patient community with the aim of:

• seeking ideas on how to best position meaningful patient input and feedback
• understanding how the input process can be more efficient and accessible for patient groups.

Patient groups will have the opportunity to contribute their feedback in 1 of 2 ways — during small group sessions or in writing via an online submission form. Details about this feedback opportunity and next steps will be announced following the webinar.