COVID-19 Evidence Review Group for Medicines

The COVID-19 Evidence Review Group for Medicines was established to support the HSE in managing the significant amount of information on treatments for COVID-19.  This COVID-19 Evidence Review Group is comprised of evidence synthesis practitioners from across the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE), Medicines Management Programme (MMP) and the National Medicines Information Centre (NMIC). The group respond to queries raised via the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer, National Clinical Programmes and the Department of Health and respond in a timely way with the evidence review supporting the query.

In order to provide timely information to decision makers a rapid evidence review is the chosen methodology.  The Evidence Review Group uses a systematic search strategy that searches for both peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed publications.  The Rapid Evidence Reviews are updated frequently (1-2 weeks) depending on the topic of the review.

Rapid Evidence Reviews

Search Strategy for Evidence Reviews in COVID-19 Latest Update 01 May  2020

Antivirals for treatment of COVID-19 A Rapid Evidence Review Latest Update 26 June 2020

Hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin for the treatment of  COVID-19: A Rapid Evidence Review Latest Update 17 April 2020

Tocilizumab for the treatment of COVID-19 in patients who have severe COVID -19 infection with suspected hyperinflammation: A Rapid Evidence Review Latest Update 20 May 2020