It is important for manufacturers to constantly keep in mind that the guidelines presented in this document will allow them to move beyond the traditional simplistic "economic analysis" that simply compares the unit prices of their product with an older competitor. A full economic analysis allows manufacturers to represent the cost offsets and health benefits that are expected to result from using their product instead of an alternative. The purpose of providing the guidelines, and requiring that companies either present an economic analysis or justify its absence, is to provide the DQTC with better information to enable its members to judge the "value for the money" associated with each product under review.

It is intended that these guidelines incorporate considerable flexibility in their interpretation and application, while industry, academia, the DQTC and government increase their experience with, and expertise in, the techniques of economic analysis.

Accordingly, these guidelines, produced after considerable feedback on earlier drafts from industry, academia, and consultants (Detsky 1993), will almost certainly be revised in the future. When a national document is produced by the steering committee of the Canadian Collaborative Workshop on Pharmacoeconomics, the DQTC will review any differences between the documents. At the present time, it is anticipated that there will be no substantial differences in recommended methodologies, although there may be a difference in format. Manufacturers will be informed about the relationship between the documents when the DQTC has had the opportunity to review the final version of the national document.

Economic analyses will be reviewed with considerable flexibility, particularly over the next 2 years, while the DQTC continues to revise these guidelines as it gains experience, and as the science of measurement and analysis advances. Those preparing submissions should be encouraged to experiment with various approaches as part of the general development of this field, and to engage the DQTC in ongoing discussions about these efforts.

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