The Therapeutics Initiative (TI) is an independent organization at the
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks among the top thre ...
(UBC) which researches the effectiveness of medications and provides education to health care providers in
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
about the use of medications.
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History
The Therapeutics Initiative was founded in 1994 by the British Columbia Ministry of Health.PharmaCare Pharmacare is a Canadian proposal for a publicly-funded insurance program for medications, similar to Medicare for health insurance. Limited pharmacare programs exist in the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia. Multiple organizers ...
.[ These reports are generated without look at costs just medication effects.][ This is done independently of the ]pharmaceutical industry
The pharmaceutical industry discovers, develops, produces, and markets drugs or pharmaceutical drugs for use as medications to be administered to patients (or self-administered), with the aim to cure them, vaccinate them, or alleviate symptoms. ...
and government.[ and are part of the ]International Society of Drug Bulletins
The International Society of Drug Bulletins works to increase the sharing of high quality information on medical treatments and medication between countries. It was started in 1986 and is supported by the World Health Organization.
To be a member ...
.
Controversy
In 2008, a pharmaceutical task force established by the British Columbia government published a report on the Therapeutics Initiative.[ The task force members included Russell Williams who was then head of Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D) and employees of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals.][ They recommended closing the TI.][
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See also
*Prescrire
''Prescrire'' also known as ''La Revue Prescrire'' is a monthly medical journal in French which addresses developments in diseases, medications, and in medical techniques and technologies. ''Prescrire'' contains no advertising, and is internally f ...
*National Prescribing Service
Established in March 1998, NPS MedicineWise (known prior to 2009 as the National Prescribing Service) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation whose programs are funded by the national Department of Health. Since July 2012, the organisation h ...
References
{{reflist
University of British Columbia
Pharmacology journals