• Stephen J Shalansky, Roohina Virk, Margaret Ackman, Cynthia Jackevicius, Heather Kertland, Ross Tsuyuki, Karin Humphries, and Canadian Cardiovascular Pharmacists Network (CCPN).
• Pharmacy Department, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia. shalansk@interchange.ubc.ca
• Can J Cardiol. 2003 Feb 1;19(2):173-9.

BackgroundAccess to new therapies in hospitals depends upon both clinical trial evidence and local Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) committee approval. The process of formulary evaluation by P&T committees is not well-understood.ObjectivesTo describe the formulary decision-making process in Canadian hospitals for cardiovascular medications recently made available on the Canadian market.MethodsPostal survey of hospital pharmacy directors in all Canadian hospitals with more than 50 beds. Target drugs included abciximab, enoxaparin, dalteparin, clopidogrel, eptifibatide and tirofiban.ResultsOf 428 surveys mailed, responses were received from 164 P&T committees representing 350 hospitals for an effective response rate of 82%. While physicians make up the largest proportion of committee membership, pharmacists play an influential role. Information most commonly cited as influencing formulary decisions included published clinical trials (97%), regional guidelines (90%), pharmacoeconomic data (84%), decisions at peer hospitals (73%) and local opinion leaders (60%). However, this information was often not required on formulary applications. Approval timelines varied widely for target medications but there were no regional, hospital or P&T committee characteristics that were independent predictors of early formulary application or approval.ConclusionsThere is wide variability in the time taken for Canadian institutions to adopt new cardiovascular therapies, which is not explained by regional, hospital or P&T committee characteristics. Standardization of the formulary application and evaluation processes, including sharing of information amongst institutions, would lead to broader understanding of the applicable issues, more objectivity and improved efficiency.

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