The Medical Advisory Secretariat and the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee are pleased to launch updated versions of their websites. For your convenience, we have made the sites easier to navigate and have collected all of our evidence-based analyses and recommendations in the new Ontario Health Technology Assessment Series.

As these sites are still under development, please send your comments to MASinfo.moh@ontario.ca or OHTACinfo.moh@ontario.ca.

The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee (OHTAC) is an arms-length expert committee that makes recommendations to the Ontario health care system and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) about the best health technologies for Ontario. Established in October 2003, OHTAC bridges the worlds of science and health care decision-making by applying the best available evidence from around the world and across the province, to the unique needs of Ontario patients, providers, facility administrators and policy decision-makers. Decisions are based on evidence-based analyses conducted by the Medical Advisory Secretariat of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

It is an application driven committee, receiving and reviewing current and new health technologies from Ontario health care providers. The OHTAC may also initiate analyses of alternative diagnostic or treatment approaches to key issues facing Ontario’s population with regard to the diagnosis or treatment of acute or chronic health conditions.

Through a rigorous and transparent process, OHTAC creates a forum to produce recommendations to Ontario practitioners, the broader health care system and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. It strives to maximize opportunities for the uptake of health technologies which improve patient outcomes and system efficiencies.

Critical review of data includes self-critical review for continuous improvement. The OHTAC considers continuing quality improvement to be essential to its evolution and since its inception in 2003, two external reviews have evaluated the Evidence-Based Technology Analysis Program in Ontario. Read the reviews and OHTAC’s response.