The agreement was signed on 26 October 2011 by the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, and the President of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), Dr. Brian O' Rourke.

CADTH provides decision-makers in Canada with evidence, analysis, technical assistance, and recommendations they require in order to make decisions in the field of health technologies. 

The agreement between CADTH and PAHO will facilitate cooperation between both organizations in order to strengthen governance and interventions in the pharmaceutical and other health technologies sector, through the use of best scientific evidence and Health Technology Assessment (HTA).

Through this agreement, the database Rx for Change will be made available in Spanish and accessible for the Region.  Rx for Change was developed by the Cochrane Effective Practices and Organization of Care Group, and the Cochrane Consumer and Communication Review Group and contains information on scientific evidence to inform the design and implementation of interventions, management and use of health technologies. 

In addition, the agreement proposes collaboration between CADTH and PAHO in training activities to increase regional capabilities for health technologies management and other instruments. 

The present agreement will remain in effect from October 26th 2011 to December 31st 2013.