Effective April 1, 2016, all drug products reviewed by the Common Drug Review (CDR) and the pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review (pCODR) will no longer require a routine review by the Committee to Evaluate Drugs (CED), the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s expert drug advisory committee. This change also applies to drug submissions received by the Ontario Public Drug Programs (OPDP) prior to April 1, 2016 that have not yet been reviewed by the CED. As a result, CED recommendation letters will no longer be issued for drugs eligible for CDR or pCODR review. The decision was made to better align with national processes, including the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance.

On a case-by-case basis, the OPDP may seek CED’s advice on drug products previously reviewed by the CDR or pCODR.

The CED will continue to review submissions for brand products that are not eligible for the CDR’s or pCODR’s review process, as well as provide advice to the ministry on important initiatives such as formulary modernization and drug class reviews.

Manufacturers must continue to make submissions to the OPDP to have their products considered by the Executive Officer for listing and funding, in accordance with Regulation 201/96 of the Ontario Drug Benefit Act and Regulation 935 of the Drug Interchangeability and Dispensing Fee Act.

General inquiries/questions should be directed to:

Ontario Public Drug Programs
5700 Yonge Street, 3rd Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M2M 4K5
Tel: (416) 327-8109 (in Toronto) or 1-866-811-9893 (toll-free)
Fax: (416) 327-8912 (in Toronto) or 1-866-595-6530 (toll-free)
E-mail: PublicDrugPrgrms.moh@ontario.ca