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Evidence to Improve Care

Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Pain and Noncancer Pain


Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee Recommendations

  • The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends against the expansion of public funding for intrathecal drug delivery systems for patients with chronic pain due to advanced cancer

  • The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends against the expansion of public funding for intrathecal drug delivery systems for patients with chronic non-malignant back pain

Read the full OHTAC Recommendation report



Some patients with chronic back pain do not feel sufficient relief with oral medications. For patients with back pain that is difficult to control, intrathecal drug delivery systems (a pain reliever drug delivered directly into the spine) are a potential treatment option.

Intrathecal drug delivery systems involve a pump connected to a small tube implanted in the spine. The system delivers drugs directly to the fluid surrounding the spinal cord (the intrathecal space). By doing so, the medication does not need to go through the digestive system, which may reduce side effects.


Health Quality Ontario Reviews Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems

To see how effective intrathecal drug delivery systems are in managing chronic cancer or non-malignant back pain, we looked at studies that compared comprehensive pain management strategies that included these systems with strategies that did not.


Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Pain: A Health Technology Assessment (PDF)
January 2016

Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems for Noncancer Pain: A Health Technology Assessment (PDF)
January 2016


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The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has accepted this recommendation.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has provided the following response: The Ministry has no current plans to change funding for these systems.




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