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Pharmaceutical Data Tool

This tool provides information on the use of and spending on publicly funded pharmaceuticals across Canada, as well as the designs, payment structures and formularies of public drug programs in Canada. It enables comparable analysis of federal, provincial and territorial drug program trends, designs and coverage.

Data from CIHI’s National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System (NPDUIS) is used to populate this tool. NPDUIS houses pan-Canadian claims-level data on prescription drugs, as well as information on drug programs and formularies for all jurisdictions in Canada. 

Instructions

This interactive tool is not fully accessible for navigation with keyboards or to screen readers. 
For the most accessible experience, and for additional data, download the data table in XLSX format.

Go to accessible data tables

Accessibility

This interactive tool allows you to explore data tables and visualization dashboards. Learn more about how to use it and find definitions for all data elements below the tool.

Go to help and definitions

Mobile

This interactive tool functions properly on desktop view, not on mobile or touch screens. For the best experience, please use this tool on your desktop browser.

Accessible data tables

Help and definitions

References

  1. Canadian Institute for Health Information. National health expenditure trends. Accessed October 29, 2024.
  2. Kwan D, Farrell B. Polypharmacy: Optimizing medication use in elderly patients (PDF). The Canadian Geriatrics Society Journal of Continuing Medical Education. 2014.
  3. Charlesworth CJ, Smit E, Lee DSH, et al. Polypharmacy among adults aged 65 years and older in the United States: 1988–2010. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 2015.
  4. Canadian Institute for Health Information. Adverse Drug Reaction–Related Hospitalizations Among Seniors, 2006 to 2011 (PDF). 2013.
  5. Tadrous M, et al. Characteristics of high–drug-cost beneficiaries of public drug plans in 9 Canadian provinces: A cross-sectional analysis. CMAJ. 2020.
  6. Canadian Institute for Health Information. Trends in public drug program spending in Canada. Accessed October 29, 2024.
  7. Government of Canada. Biosimilar biologic drugs in Canada: Fact sheet. Accessed October 29, 2024.
  8. Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. Biosimilars in Canada: Building Momentum in the Wake of Recent Switching Policies (PDF) [presentation to 2021 CADTH Symposium]. November 2021.
 

How to cite:

Canadian Institute for Health Information. Pharmaceutical Data Tool. Accessed April 24, 2025.