Published Nov 10, 2015

PANEL EXAMINES OUTCOMES RESEARCH IN DAILY PRACTICE 

Milan, Italy—November 10, 2015—The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) 18^th Annual European Congress second plenary session — Outcomes Research: Are We Ready to Put Theory into Practice? — was held this morning at the MiCo – Milano Congressi in Milan, Italy. The plenary was moderated by Lorenzo G Mantovani, DSc, Associate Professor of Public Health, Center for Public Health Research (CESP), University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy and featured speakers: - Walter Ricciardi, President, Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) and Past-President, European Public Health Association (EUPHA), Rome, Italy - Sergio Pecorelli, MD, PhD, Chairman of the Board, Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) and Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, & Chancellor, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy - Brian O'Rourke, PharmD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), Ottawa, ON, Canada - Mario Strazzabosco, MD, PhD, Deputy Director, Yale Liver Center & Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine and Director, Department of Surgical and Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy The Outcomes Research plenary explored the transition of outcomes research over the last four decades as assessment of outcomes has been moving from research into daily practice. The panel discussed current practices, challenges, and opportunities of outcomes research. The speakers also examined future perspectives on the assessment of outcomes in a variety of health care fields, including reimbursement of drugs and devices, evaluation of public health interventions, validation of new technologies, and financing of complex health services. “When evaluating putting outcomes research into practice we need to ask, ‘Is it new, is it true, and does it matter?’” Lorenzo G Mantovani, DSc. noted. Walter Ricciardi stated that, “We must put theory into practice during this very historic time.” He also spoke to the universality of health care, noting that, “All citizens will become patients at some point in their lives.” Sergio Pecorelli, MD, PhD remarked that, “The real answer is not simply to cut costs, but to see where the innovation is and to focus on long-term health planning.” Brian O'Rourke, PharmD emphasized that we should, “Change from patient reported outcomes to patient important outcomes.” And Mario Strazzabosco, MD, PhD stated, “What is the object of health care? Health. Not spending. Reimbursement should align with value.” Released presentations from the ISPOR 18^th Annual European Congress are available at http://www.ispor.org/Event/ReleasedPresentations/2015Milan. ISPOR’s 18^th Annual European Congress may be followed on social media using the hashtag #ISPORMilan.

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