Pharmaceutical access and use

Release date: November 2, 2022
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Infographic: Pharmaceutical access and use
Description: Pharmaceutical access and use

Pharmaceutical access and use

In 2021, about 1 in 5 Canadians reported not having insurance to cover the cost of prescription medication in the previous 12 months.

The share of Canadians who reported having no prescription insurance varied across the provinces.Note 1


Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), No insurance (appearing as column headers).
Geography No insurance
Canada 21%
British Columbia 26%
Alberta 17%
Saskatchewan 19%
Manitoba 21%
Ontario 22%
Quebec 18%
New Brunswick 17%
Nova Scotia 14%
Prince Edward Island 25%
Newfoundland and Labrador 17%

A higher proportion of immigrants than non-immigrants reported not having prescription insurance coverage. Their coverage was also more likely to be affected by the pandemic.


Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2. The information is grouped by Immigrant status (appearing as row headers), No prescription insurance coverage and Coverage affected by the pandemic (appearing as column headers).
Immigrant status No prescription insurance coverage Coverage affected by the pandemic
Recent immigrants (less than 10 years since landing) 31% 30%
Established immigrants (10 years or more since landing) 28% 27%
Non-immigrants 17% 15%

Having no prescription insurance coverage was associated with higher out-of-pocket spending and higher non-adherence to prescriptions because of cost.


Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3 Spending $500 or more out of pocket and Non-adherence to prescriptions because of cost (appearing as column headers).
Spending $500 or more out of pocket Non-adherence to prescriptions because of cost
No prescription insurance coverage 27% 17%
Prescription insurance coverage 16% 7%

Note: An analysis of prescription insurance coverage for the Indigenous population is forthcoming.

Source: Cortes, K. and L. Smith. 2022. “Pharmaceutical access and use during the pandemic.” Insights on Canadian Society. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 75-006-X.

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2022

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