evidence based prescription drug use 1 utilization of drugs challenges and directions for the future in canada robyn tamblyn phd associate professor departments medicine epidemiology & biostatistics cihr scientist mcgill university william dawson scholar context are fastest growing sector health budget annual increases 5 to 17 expenditure have culminated an estimated 15 billion retail costs canadians 20011 2 607 spent worldwide2 as publicly funded insurance programs been positioned finance increasing proportion expenditures increase from 39 over past 25 years there is consensus among canadian provinces well other industrialized nations that a concerted effort needs be made evaluate best methods establishing regulatory policy framework access identifying effective practice interventions optimize value accomplish this goal harmonized research agenda established address four key areas optimal legal licensing cost
