HTA Details
Epilepsy Surgery
- Publication date
-
2012-July-01
- Status
- Final
- Topic Area
- Neurological
- Recommendation
-
Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee Recommendation
Less than 2% of patients who might benefit from epilepsy surgery do so because of the lack of a systematic approach to this problem.
- The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends that the report of the Expert Panel on a Provincial Strategy for Epilepsy Care on improving access to the necessary diagnostic testing for surgical candidacy for epilepsy surgery be used as a resource in developing a provincial approach to addressing this issue
- Ministry Response
-
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has accepted this recommendation.
-
To read the full OHTAC Recommendation Report for this topic, contact our Health Innovation team using the contact form to request a digital copy.
In Ontario, about 30% of people with epilepsy continue to have seizures despite optimal drug treatment. Good evidence shows surgery is an effective and safe option to try to control the number of seizures for some patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Patients are carefully selected for surgery on the basis of the frequency, location and type of their seizures.
The Programs for Assessment of Technology in Health Research Institute performed a field evaluation with the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto to explore the barriers to accessing epilepsy surgery. Subsequently, an Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee Expert Panel on a Provincial Strategy for Epilepsy Care in Ontario was created. This panel developed recommendations for a provincial strategy for epilepsy care.
Supporting Documents
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
