Our Work plan
To better understand the challenges preventing the successful implementation of breakthrough medicines in Canada, I2U began its work in 2022 by looking at 8 comparator countries around the world encountering many of the same obstacles.
I2U examined 8 countries from the core set used by the Commonwealth Fund for the bulk of its comparative analysis: Australia; France; Germany; Netherlands; Norway; Sweden; Switzerland; and the United Kingdom. Our goal was to map the health system structure and key agencies of each jurisdiction – and to better understand their respective approaches to implementation support and value measurement.
Our core finding was that none of the countries we studied had an agency or organization explicitly dedicated to optimizing the implementation of breakthrough medicines – or health technologies more broadly. Although other jurisdictions have programs and policies worthy of emulation, any tools we develop will have to be created with the needs and the attributes of Canadian health systems in mind.
In 2023, I2U has developed a 4-phase work plan that will extend through the end of the year:
PHASE 1
Case Study Deep Dive
January – March
In Phase 1, our goal is to complete 4-5 diverse case studies that will illuminate how Canadian health systems have transformed (or not) to unlock the value of new breakthrough innovations. We will also examine Canadian experiences vs. global peers – to identify those instances where other countries have achieved better or more efficient “value capture.”
PHASE 2
Case Study “Road Show”
April – June
In Phase 2, our goal is to share our case study results – and the collective “lessons learned” with system leaders, patient groups and other key stakeholders.
PHASE 3
Developing and Validating a Policymaker Toolkit
July – September
In Phase 3, we will deploy the insights gathered through our research into framework that will help policymakers and payers better determine the specific action required to prepare for future breakthrough medicines.
PHASE 4
Launching the Toolkit
October – December
In Phase 4, we’ll update and finalize the toolkit based on feedback from system leaders and other collaborators. We will then publicly “launch” the framework and toolkit as the capstone of I2U’s work together.