Importance of Cost Estimates and Cost Studies

Canada has a distinctive health care system, with a unique drug review and reimbursement process in the oncology field, and thus requires Canadian-specific cost data to determine the value of interventions. Consequently, high-quality studies are needed that evaluate cost differences and variability in health systems, care pathways, economic evaluations, and policy frameworks unique to the Canadian context.Costing studies provide important insight into the economic burden of disease and can be useful for understanding the resources incurred by health systems, other payers, and patients. Furthermore, understanding differences in resource use and cost can aid in the planning of quality care and provide insight into system performance.Without access to high-quality research, Canadian policymakers cannot properly and systematically assess the effects of new technologies, for example. Adapting frameworks and models from other countries to inform the Canadian context has thus far been the norm. However, that approach is not always ideal, given Canada’s unique health care system requirements.