The Optimal Drug Therapy National Symposium 2001: a call for action

There is widespread concern internationally and within Canada about the rapid escalation in pharmaceutical costs. Although there is reason to believe that the quality of prescribing has improved in recent years, with heightened emphasis on evidence-based therapeutic decision-making, there is enormous pressure to prescribe in almost every clinical situation. Busy clinicians need improved tools to aid therapeutic decision-making. Access to timely information about drug efficacy and safety is essential. Most importantly, there is a need for a new partnership model that may blend the interests of patients, professionals, payors and manufacturers to better define disease state management approaches that will lead to an optimal return on the investment in pharmaceutical care. The new model will depend on high standards of research to show what does and does not work to secure the most effective pharmacotherapy. It will also require renewed efforts in education for patients and caregivers, and progress on that front will, in turn, rely on the most effective use of expanded capacity in information technology. One early impact will be seen in the reduction of medication errors. The framework for therapeutic decision-making must evolve in keeping with the revolution in human biology. With improved understanding of human genomics and proteomics, prescribers are better able to consider highly individualized and targeted drug therapies while actively concentrating on risk minimization. The Optimal Drug Therapy National Symposium 2001 has created a consensus among stakeholders and pointed the way to improvements in drug therapy that may be achieved through enhanced research, educa- tion, public involvement and professional support. Unequivocal commitment to the laudable goal of optimal drug therapy is now required from all sides.