Rx&D report finds Canada is losing out in public drug plan reimbursement

Canada is seriously lagging behind other similar OECD countries in terms of public drug plan reimbursement, according to a new IMS Brogan report commissioned by Canada's trade group Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D).

The report, 2015 Access to New Medicines in Public Drug Plans: Canada and Comparable Countries, ranks Canada 16 out of 18 similar OECD countries and finds Canada seriously lagging compared to other similar OECD countries in terms of public drug plan reimbursement.

Brett Skinner, Rx&D executive director, health and economic policy, said: “It’s unimaginable to know that, in 2014, only 23% of 141 Health Canada-approved new medicines were included in public plans, ranking Canada 17 out of 18 on this front.”