TABLE 1.
Weighted and unweighted percentage of drugs listed on nine provincial formularies in Canada, excluding special program drugs, 2006
| BC | AB | SK | MB | ON | QC | NB | NS | NL | All 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted: unweighted (796 drugs) | 60 | 63 | 49 | 59 | 45 | 62 | 52 | 58 | 62 | 30 |
| Unrestricted: weighted ($16.5 billion) | 61 | 84 | 66 | 71 | 68 | 86 | 62 | 66 | 64 | 49 |
| Restricted: unweighted (796 drugs) | 10 | 7 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 11 | <1 |
| Restricted: weighted ($16.5 billion) | 25 | 8 | 27 | 21 | 19 | 7 | 28 | 25 | 28 | <1 |
| Total listings: unweighted (796 drugs) | 69 | 69 | 64 | 68 | 55 | 67 | 62 | 70 | 73 | 41 |
| Total listings: weighted ($16.5 billion) | 86 | 92 | 93 | 92 | 87 | 93 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 77 |
Notes:
Percentages may not add up due to rounding.
Weights are based on 2006 national retail sales data from IMS Health. “Listed” combines restricted and unrestricted coverage. “Special program drugs” include drugs primarily indicated to treat cancer, cystic fibrosis, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, multiple sclerosis, Gaucher's disease, pulmonary hypertension and thalassemia, as well as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and human growth hormone.
Provinces studied: British Columbia (BC), Alberta (AB), Saskatchewan (SK), Manitoba (MB), Ontario (ON), Quebec (QC), New Brunswick (NB), Nova Scotia (NS) and Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).
Authors' calculations based on national retail sales data from IMS Health, Canada Inc. and provincial formulary listings from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and Conseil du médicament.