ABSTRACT
In Canada, prescription drugs are provided to patients in hospital settings under the Canada Health Act, but are not universally covered when prescribed outside the hospital. Although many 24Canadians have either publicly or privately funded drug plans, approximately 10% of Canadians have no coverage. Each province and territory has its own public drug insurance program. They differ in plan design, eligible beneficiaries, eligibility requirements, cost sharing arrangements, drugs reimbursed and method of pharmacist reimbursement. Canada has federal regulatory and advisory structures which affect drug prices, utilization and expenditures. The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board is an independent, federal, quasi-judicial board which regulates the maximum price set for new and existing medicines. The Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment examines comparative therapeutic and economic assessments of pharmaceutical products. Besides regulating pharmaceuticals for sale and post-approval surveillance, Health Canada provides policies and oversees regulated activities for advertisements of prescription drugs to consumers. In summary, provincial, territorial and federal governments and national agencies all have distinctive and complementary roles in providing Canadian consumers with safe, effective, affordable drug therapy. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: <docdelivery@haworthpress.com> Website: <https://www.HaworthPress.com> Ó 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]
