Canada post-election drug price changes likely

Subject

Pharmacare and drug pricing in Canada.

Significance

Canada’s federal government announced changes to pharmaceutical drug pricing regulations on August 9, aiming to lower prices and enhance transparency around confidential discounts and rebates offered to public and private buyers by drug firms. The changes show Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government preparing to push to implement recent recommendations for a national, single-payer system of public pharmacare after October’s election.

Impacts

• International pharma firms will reduce their engagement with Canada’s market, launching fewer new drugs and reducing R&D.
• Canadian pharma firms may expand their offerings of generic drugs.
• Insurance companies will have to realign their business models to adjust to the emerging system of universal public coverage.
• If the Conservatives win the election, they are unlikely to continue with these healthcare reforms.