Examining the Canadian Drug Reimbursement Environment

The Canadian market holds many lucrative opportunities for Canadian manufacturers, but standards for approval and reimbursement are markedly different from their neighbors to the south. In a recent Xcenda article, Alison Drinkwater details the various stakeholders and processes manufacturers must consider when bringing drugs to the Canadian market. One key difference from the American market is how reimbursement decisions are made.

According to Drinkwater, “Drug pricing is regulated in Canada at the “top end.” The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB), a federal agency, determines the maximum price at which a drug can be sold in Canada. This price must not be “excessive.” The role of PMPRB is a topic that is continuously debated and discussed amongst healthcare stakeholders. The Canadian federal government passed regulations in 2019 that change how PMPRB will regulate maximum prices for patented medicines.”

To learn more, click here.

(Source: Xcenda, February 17^th, 2022)