Summary:

Total expenditures on prescription drugs in Canada are expected to reach $25.4 billion
in 2009. Public-sector expenditures are expected to make up almost half of this total, at
$11.4 billion. While the share of seniors’ drug costs paid by Canadian public drug programs
is unknown, it accounts for a significant percentage of drug program expenditures. In
2007, per capita spending on prescription drugs by seniors (people age 65 and older) was
estimated to be three times the Canadian average, accounting for about 40% of all retail
spending on prescription drugs.

Between 2001 and 2006, the Canadian senior population grew to almost 14% of the
total population. With this growth projected to continue, there will be an ongoing need
for information regarding seniors’ drug use and expenditures to support the overall
management of public drug programs.

Using data from the National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System (NPDUIS)
Database, as submitted by six provincial public drug programs (Alberta, Saskatchewan,
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island), this report looks at
several key questions regarding seniors’ drug use and expenditures, including

• How much do public drug programs spend on seniors?
• Which drugs account for the highest drug program spending on seniors?
• Which drugs showed the most change in drug program spending on seniors?
• How is public drug program spending on seniors distributed?
• How many drugs are seniors using?
• What drugs are being used by younger versus older seniors?

Click here to read the report