N.S. drug spending among highest in Canada
Posted Apr 23, 2010 06:02:39 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Nova Scotia is a province of big spenders when it comes to prescription drugs.
New figures from the Canadian Institute for Health Information show Nova Scotians spent $903 per person on prescription drugs last year.
That’s second in the country, just behind Newfoundland and Labrador.
When you factor in spending on over-the-counter meds our drug spending reaches $1057.
That’s the highest in the country.
Dalhousie Pharmacy Associate Professor Neil MacKinnon tells the Herald he’s not sure why it’s happening, noting a 2008 study ruled out factors like drug costs and the effect of an aging population.
He does note that many people go to their doctor expecting a quick fix to their medical problems.
