Drug spending continues to grow as use of generics also increases

From the Globe and Mail:
Despite the recession, drug spending grew a robust 5.5 per cent in Canada last year, hitting $22.9-billion, newly released data show.

Canadians filled a staggering 483 million prescriptions in 2009 – an average of 14 each. Per capita retail drug spending was $680 last year, ranging from a high of $820 in Quebec to a low of $518 in British Columbia.

The most prescribed drugs were for blood pressure control (74 million), depression and anxiety (61 million), heartburn (33 million), and cholesterol-lowering (32 million). Hormone replacement therapy, despite controversy about its safety, remains popular with menopausal women, with 26 million prescriptions. ...more