HIGHLIGHTS
On average, federal and provincial public drug plans covered only 25% of the 479 new drugs approved by Health Canada from 2008-2017.
Quebec covered the highest percentage of new drugs (33%). Alberta and Prince Edward Island covered the lowest percentage of new drugs (21%).
Of the new drugs that were eventually covered, the average wait was 674 days to list a new drug on the formulary.
Quebec had the shortest wait to list a new drug for coverage (477 days). Prince Edward Island had the longest wait to list a new drug for coverage (926 days).
All federal and provincial public drug plans listed most drugs that were covered in each jurisdiction as Special Authorization versus Full Benefit. Of the 479 new drugs approved by Health Canada from 2008-2017, Full Benefit coverage rates ranged from a low of 4.6% in British Columbia, up to only 12.9% in New Brunswick.
