Prescription drugs are the fastest growing component of the Canadian health care budget. This increases the financial pressure on public drug plans.
Before the creation of the Common Drug Review (CDR), Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial drug plans had separate processes for conducting reviews and making formulary listing recommendations.
The CDR was set up to reduce duplication, and provide equal access to high level evidence and expert advice, thereby contributing to the quality and sustainability of Canadian public drug plans. (All plans participate in CDR, except Québec.)
The CDR also consolidates the submission process for pharmaceutical manufacturers.
The CDR helps support and inform drug plan decisions about drugs by providing:
The drug plans continue to make final benefit-listing and coverage decisions, based on CEDAC recommendations, and jurisdictional factors, such as plan mandates, priorities, and resources.
The Common Drug Review is part of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. In March 2002, the CDR Directorate was established, and work to develop the CDR process started. The CDR began accepting submissions in September 2003.
© 2010 Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
Last Updated April 6, 2010
