Cost keeps one in 10 Canadians from filling prescription

The first analysis of cost related non-adherence has found that 9.6% of Canadians did not fill a new prescription, did not renew it once the drugs had been used, or that they spread out taking the pills because of the cost. The patterns of non-adherence along lines of income and insurance coverage mirrored those seen in similar studies in the United States.

The Canada Health Act requires provinces to provide universal public insurance for medically necessary hospital and doctor services, but it does not include the cover of outpatient prescription drugs.

Although private and public insurance cover for prescription drugs …