Child and youth health: Data tables

Public drug program spending accounted for 44% of prescribed drug spending in Canada in 2021. Public drug program spending does not include spending on drugs dispensed in hospitals or on drugs funded through cancer agencies and other special programs.

A formulary is a list of the drugs covered for eligible populations, and the type of coverage provided. Every public drug plan or program in Canada has a unique formulary.

On average, seniors have a higher number of chronic conditions, and as a result they are prescribed a higher number of drugs than other age groups. The use of multiple drugs is associated with a higher risk of emergency department (ED) visits and…

Spending on high-cost chemicals (those with an average cost of $10,000 or more per person per year) accounts for a large proportion of total public drug program spending. Beneficiaries for whom a public drug program paid $10,000 or more can typically be…

Biologic drugs, which are derived from living organisms, are structurally more complex and more expensive than traditional pharmaceuticals. Spending on biologics continues to increase in Canada, which has ranked third among Organisation for Economic Co-…

Public drug plans/programs provide drug coverage for a specific population. Federal, provincial and territorial governments offer many different drug plans/programs, most of which have defined criteria for eligibility that include things like age, income…

Reimbursement policies specify the allowable limits that are placed on the costs for prescription drugs. These can include policies and limitations related to ingredient pricing, the maximum cost of generic drugs, coverage of drugs with lower-cost…

Markup policies outline the maximum amount a pharmacy can add to the cost of a drug or ingredient, above the original cost. This amount is usually stated as a percentage of the cost.

Professional fees are the amount paid to a service provider for their services. They’re typically paid to a pharmacist and include dispensing fees, compounding fees or any other special service fees. Each jurisdiction has its own policies for these fees.

This data table accompanies the digital report Travel burden for hospital care in Canada. Methodology information is included to help interpret the table.