title: The drivers of overspending on prescription drugs in Quebec.
abstract: According to data from the most recent edition of the Canadian Rx Atlas, Quebec was the province with the highest total spending per capita on prescription drugs. The difference between Quebec and the rest of Canada was 35%, which translates into $1.5 billion dollars of extra spending. This analysis explores the economic cost drivers of the higher level of pharmaceutical spending in Quebec. While much of the additional spending was driven by a higher volume of drugs being prescribed overall, the factors contributing to higher spending differed greatly within particular therapeutic categories. The results and their implications are discussed in the context of pharmaceutical policy environment.
authors.affiliation: Banting Postdoctoral Fellow, Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smolina
authors.affiliation: Professor and Director, Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D006801:Humans; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000191:economics*; D011306:Prescription Fees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011792:Quebec
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs