Cancer drugs play a vital role in the management of cancer, either by prolonging life or by increasing a patient’s quality of life through the reduction of symptoms.
With increasing numbers of new and expensive cancer drugs being discovered, there is a need to ensure that patients have timely access to cancer therapies proven to offer significant clinical benefit and value for money.
Cancer Care Ontario plays a critical role in guiding and implementing policy and best-practice care standards. Another important priority for CCO is to remove barriers to treatment so eligible patients have timely access to appropriate therapies.
New Drug Funding Program (NDFP)
The New Drug Funding Program (NDFP) was developed to ensure that all patients have equal access to new and expensive drugs, regardless of where they live. It is one of four publicly funded drug programs under the Ministry’s Ontario Public Drug Programs (OPDP), and is administered through CCO.
The NDFP covers about 75% of the overall cost of all hospital-based intravenous (IV) cancer drugs in Ontario. Hospitals cover the remaining 25% on older IV cancer drugs that were approved before the NDFP was established. CCO and the OPDP work together to evaluate which new cancer drugs should be publicly funded, under either the Ontario Drug Benefit Program (ODB) or NDFP.
Program in Evidence-Based Care (PEBC)
The Program in Evidence-Based Care (PEBC) produces written reports on new drugs or procedures based on a review of scientific evidence with input from clinical experts. The PEBC is an internationally recognized initiative whose goal is to improve the quality of cancer care by helping put the best evidence into practice in order to improve patient outcomes. The PEBC provides input to the drug approval process. Its reports serve as references for clinicians during everyday practice.
CCO Drug Formulary
The CCO Drug Formulary is an information only resource providing drug and regimen monographs reflecting the choices of chemotherapy used across Ontario. Supportive Care and Symptom Control Regimens, and Patient Information sheets are also available. The Formulary is prepared for and mainly used by health care professionals providing cancer care, treatment, and support.
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