A small minority are beneficiaries of a large portion of Canada’s public health spending

Canada’s public drug programs spent more than $14 billion last year, much of it on relatively few people. Unlike other countries with universal health care coverage, Canada’s government doesn’t cover prescription drugs, and people rely on public and private plans instead. Here’s more: 

• Overall trends: Nearly 40% of the 2018 public drug spending was on only 2% of beneficiaries, suggesting more is being spent on high-cost drugs and those taking multiple drugs.
• Type of drugs: Drugs for the autoimmune disorders rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease were the top class of drugs. Hepatitis C drugs and those for age-related macular degeneration were also among the top three. 
• Beneficiaries: 28% of Canadians last year were beneficiaries of public drug spending, including nearly 80% of seniors. Around 25% of those who received $10,000 or more in public spending were taking 15 or more classes of drugs.