Therapeutic medication management program receives the Innovation Award from the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec

The Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec recently awarded the Innovation prize to the Programme de gestion thérapeutique des médicaments (PGTM) team.

A unique collaboration in support of pharmaceutical excellence

The PGTM represents an unprecedented initiative in Quebec, bringing together the province’s five university teaching hospitals(UTHs) around a common goal: promoting the optimal use of medications through care, teaching, research, and technology assessment activities.

This inter-institutional collaboration is a unique model for sharing expertise, making better use of resources and standardizing practices to promote more appropriate medication use.

According to André Bonnici, MUHC Director of Pharmacy, “The PGTM has had a major impact on medication costs, notably by making recommendations on the choice of dosage for monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1 or PD-L1, used in cancer treatment. This PGTM report alone resulted in approximately $34 million in medication cost avoidance across the university teaching hospitals between 2024 and 2025. Province-wide, that'sprobably around $130 million in avoided costs. That'svery significant!”

Tangible impact and exceptional reach

The PGTM's evidence-based work benefits not only university hospitals, but also other healthcare establishments and community pharmacies. With nearly 6,300 hospital beds represented, the team conducts studies on patient populations of impressive scale.

The team stands out for the innovation of its projects, such as the development of an electronic platform for medications not marketed in Canada, and the “Mon écriture, je la soigne!” campaign aimed at improving the legibility of medical prescriptions. The program also tackles topical issues from an innovative angle, for example, its work on improving postoperative opioid prescribing to reduce the risk of misuse. Its work is shared through scientific publications, presentations at national and international conferences, and its website (www.pgtm.qc.ca).

At the MUHC, the PGTM team consists of the following professionals: Chantal Guèvremont, Sophie Fortier, André Bonnici (Pharmacists), Dr. Raghu Rajan, Medical Oncology, Dr. Jean Deschênes, Assistant Medical and Professional Services Director (DMSP)., and Dr. Nicolas Gillot, DMSP.

Watch this video to learn more about this innovative project.