Discover key facts about the healthcare market in Canada and learn about our latest market research for our pharmaceutical, medical device, and healthcare sector clients.
Key facts about the Canadian health market:
Funding in the Canadian healthcare system
Canada has a decentralised, universal, publicly funded health system called Canadian Medicare. Healthcare is funded and administered primarily by the country’s 13 provinces and territories. Each of these provinces and territories have their own insurance plan, and each receives cash assistance from the federal government on a per-capita basis.
Benefits and delivery approaches vary. All citizens and permanent residents receive medically necessary hospital and physician services free at the point of use, although 2 of every 3 Canadian individuals also have private insurance.
Health technology assessment in the Canada
The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) oversees the national HTA process (with the exception of Quebec), producing information about clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness, and the broader impact of drugs, medical technologies, and health systems.
The agency’s Common Drug Review provides common, nonbinding formulary recommendations to the publicly funded provincial drug plans (except in Quebec) to support greater consistency in access and evidence-based resource allocation.
In Quebec, the National Institute for Excellence in Health and Social Services/Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) evaluates the clinical benefits and costs of technologies, medications, and interventions. It is modelled closely on NICE, of the UK.
It was announced in December 2023 that CADTH will be replaced by a new Canadian Drug Agency (CDA). The new agency will have a broader brief and will work in partnership with the provinces and territories.
Canadian payers’ primary focus:
The primary focus for CADTH’s is cost effectiveness.
Why work with a European-based market access consultancy?
If Canada is your first launch market, you may be wondering about the benefits of working with a European-based consultancy over a local agency.
First and foremost, we are a Global Market Access agency. Whilst the majority of our team are based in the UK, we deliver projects to Global clients around the world. As such, we understand the needs and processes of major launch markets and archetypes, and how to factor these into a cohesive Global market access strategy.
Our work takes a broader perspective than the first launch market. This is particularly important in a complex and diverse market like that of Canada. We use our understanding of all market archetypes to deliver a suitable strategy for Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, and beyond.
We collaborate with our affiliates across the world to ensure our strategic and tactical deliverables resonate with key stakeholders, such as payers, clinicians, and policy makers. This ensures that local adaptations of Global materials, which are developed with affiliates in mind, are efficient and meet the needs of different markets.
In practice, the time difference means that we can deliver materials for you to review at the start of your day. We are flexible with our working hours, allowing us to make time for meetings throughout your working day.
To discuss your launch strategy for Canada with our experts, or to enquire about market research services, get in touch using the form below.
Our work in the Canadian market
At Mtech Access, we have a global network of Associates, including experts across Canada. Their insights inform our primary research and validate our secondary research.
Here are just a few examples of how we have supported clients looking to understand and influence the healthcare market in Canada:
View Case StudyGaining global payer insights to inform clinical trial design, price and market access strategy
View Case StudyReviewing HTA decisions in key markets across the globe
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More Canadian market insights and research
Market access and reimbursement in Canada – changes at CADTH
What do you need to know about the market access and reimbursement landscape in Canada? What changes can we expect at the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health.
