Historical and projected public spending on drugs for rare diseases in Canada between 2010 and 2025.

Objective: Rare diseases are life-threatening, debilitating, or serious chronic conditions that affect < 50/100,000 people. Canadians can only access approximately 60% of drugs for rare diseases (DRDs), which is partially related to high per-patient costs and payers' affordability concerns. However, limiting access to DRDs can reduce survival and quality of life among patients and caregivers.

Comparative cost-efficiency of the EVOTECH endoscope cleaner and reprocessor versus manual cleaning plus automated endoscope reprocessing in a real-world Canadian hospital endoscopy setting.

Background: Reprocessing of endoscopes generally requires labour-intensive manual cleaning followed by high-level disinfection in an automated endoscope reprocessor (AER). EVOTECH Endoscope Cleaner and Reprocessor (ECR) is approved for fully automated cleaning and disinfection whereas AERs require manual cleaning prior to the high-level disinfection procedure. The purpose of this economic evaluation was to determine the cost-efficiency of the ECR versus AER methods of endoscopy reprocessing in an actual practice setting.

Reimbursement for supportive cancer medications through private insurance in Saskatchewan.

Background: As demand for cancer treatment grows, and newer, more expensive drugs become available, public payers in Canada are finding it increasingly difficult to fund the full range of available cancer drugs.

Objective: To determine the extent of private drug coverage for supportive cancer treatments in Saskatchewan, preparatory to exploring the potential for cost-sharing.

Methods: Patients who presented for chemotherapy and who provided informed consent for participation were surveyed regarding their access to private insurance.

Impact of a health education intervention in overactive bladder patients.

Objective: To assess a standardized and simple educational intervention in overactive bladder (OAB) patients to improve compliance with anticholinergic medication, increase the use of concomitant behavioral treatments, and improve patients' perception of bladder symptoms.

Materials And Methods: This is a 16-week open-label randomized trial of tolterodine combined with an education intervention for the experimental group versus tolterodine alone (no intervention) for the control group. The setting was in family medicine and urology clinics in Ontario.

Canadian survey of postsurgical pain and pain medication experiences.

Purpose: To assess the postoperative pain and pain medication experiences of Canadians.

Methods: Three hundred and five general population subjects from across Canada who had surgery in the previous three years were retrospectively questioned regarding pain experiences in the surgical facility and at home, pain medication efficacy and pain medication satisfaction.

Results: While in the surgical facility, pain was experienced by 68% of patients who expected overnight admission ("inpatients") and 49% of patients who expected same-day discharge ("outpatients").