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.
Our Advisors in Canada include:
- Ex-members of CDA-AMC (formerly CADTH)
- Ex-members of the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance
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.
