Challenges, choices, and Canada.

The Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment (CCOHTA) was established by the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers of Health in 1989 for a 3-year trial period. In 1993 CCOHTA was made a permanent organization and in 1999 the Deputy Ministers of Health renewed CCOHTA's mandate and increased its funding. CCOHTA's role is to coordinate health technology assessment (HTA) priorities across jurisdictions, foster and undertake assessment activity, and function as a clearinghouse for technology assessment results while increasing healthcare system stakeholder awareness of HTA findings. The coordinated and collaborated approach adopted by CCOHTA minimizes duplication with other national and provincial organizations and contributes to the ability of the Canadian healthcare system to continue to deliver high-quality health care to its constituents.