HTA Details
Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Pain and Noncancer Pain
- Publication date
-
2016-January-01
- Status
- Final
- Topic Area
- Pain
- Recommendation
-
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
- 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.
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.
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.
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
