There is currently a lack of robust regulations and policies to address the clinical implementation of high-cost cancer care innovations within the various health systems in Canada, including in the pediatric cancer space. This issue is further challenged by the lack of guidance on the unique clinical, economic, and ethical considerations of utilizing such technologies in children, adolescents and young adults (CAYA). The result is inadequate evaluation of innovative cancer diagnostics and therapeutics in CAYA and inconsistent reimbursements for their use. This creates barriers in access for youth in Canada – including access to promising molecular diagnostics critical to precision oncology, which could support the refinement of prognosis and the identification of unique treatment options.

This project aims to examine the current regulatory and policy approaches to innovative diagnostics in Canada to understand the challenges that have created these barriers and opportunities to overcome them. Moreover, the project will conduct a comparative analysis with similar countries to develop a well-informed set of policy recommendations that can be implemented in Canada.

The project will result in a map of policy approaches across Canada and in comparator countries leading to recommendations on how to streamline pathways to access across the country. This is a pivotal step to developing and implementing policies to govern the equitable and sustainable access to innovative technologies to improve cancer care for CAYA.

The impact of this project will be substantial. Disparities in access to the best cancer care constitutes a failure of Canadian health systems. It is only by understanding the challenges inherent to the structure of the current health systems in Canada that we can realize equitable, efficient and sustainable cancer care for young patients in Canada.