28 June 2017 - Quebec is launching an attempt to save millions in drug costs through an overhaul of the province’s generic pharmaceutical purchasing system.

The province will seek competitive bids from companies for exclusive supply contracts for generic prescription drugs, moving from a piecemeal system to a centralised tendering process. It means pharmacists will no longer be able to offer a range of brands for generic drugs and instead will be supplied by the generic drug maker chosen by the province.

Quebec’s move could have ripples across Canada as governments look for ways to control increasing health costs pushed by ageing populations. The provinces have been working together to bring down prescription drug costs and several have experimented with tendering but Quebec is the first province to dive into a bidding system on such a scale. Ottawa is also reviewing its regulatory regime in the hope of bringing down prices.

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