Cost-Related Medication Skipping Impacts Nearly 5% of Canadians, Study Finds
A new study has unveiled a troubling trend: nearly 5% of Canadians are skipping their prescribed medications due to high costs, highlighting inequities in access to essential healthcare.
Published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the research drew upon data from over 223,000 survey participants across Canada, collected between 2015 and 2020. The findings paint a stark picture of financial barriers preventing individuals from accessing vital treatments.
“We found that 4.9 per cent of respondents aged 12 years or older reported cost-related nonadherence," the report stated.
The study revealed that certain groups are disproportionately affected. Women, individuals identifying as racial or ethnic minorities, and those identifying as bisexual, pansexual, or questioning were more likely to report skipping medications due to financial constraints.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia faculty of pharmacy, Arthritis Research Canada, and other institutions emphasized the pervasiveness of these financial barriers.
"This foundational understanding of the state of cost-related nonadherence may be used to inform potential expansion of public drug coverage eligibility, premiums, and cost-sharing policies that address financial barriers to medication adherence," the report recommended.
The study’s authors paint a grim picture of the potential consequences of this reality.
“Prescription medications are necessary for disease prevention and management, particularly for people with chronic conditions; however, they are not always taken as prescribed. The costs of long-term medication use may impose considerable economic hardship to patients and lead to suboptimal care choices.
“Cost-related nonadherence refers to skipping doses, reducing dosages, delaying refilling prescriptions, or not filling a prescription because of out-of-pocket costs," the report explained.
While Canada provides universal healthcare coverage for medical visits and hospital care, prescription medications are often a significant out-of-pocket expense. Currently, these prescriptions account for a hefty 13% — $43 billion — of Canada’s annual health care spending.
In 2021 alone, Canadian households paid an estimated $7.4 billion out-of-pocket for prescription drugs.
These findings underscore the urgent need for policy changes to ensure equitable access to essential medications for all Canadians.
Click here to read the full report.
