The National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System (NPDUIS) is a research initiative jointly conducted by the PMPRB and the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). NPDUIS seeks to provide policy makers and drug plan managers with information and insights on trends in prices, utilization and costs.

A Steering Committee, composed of representatives from participating public drug plans and Health Canada, advises the PMPRB on the research agenda. Committee members provide feedback at all stages of the project from initial idea development to the final publication.

Background

Federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Health announced the establishment of NPDUIS in September 2001. The purpose of the initiative is to provide critical analyses of price, utilization and cost trends so that Canada´s health care system has more comprehensive and accurate information on how prescription drugs are being used and on sources of cost increases.

The results of NPDUIS studies, which are often conducted at the request of provincial or territorial partners, are published in the form of research reports and made available to the public.

In October 2005, the Health Ministers gave the PMPRB the responsibility to monitor and report on non-patented drug prices to provide a central, credible source of information. In April 2008, the analysis of non patented prescription drug prices was folded under the NPDUIS umbrella.

NPDUIS Database

The NPDUIS Database gives the PMPRB access to claims level drug data from a number of jurisdictions across Canada. Access to this data is the result of a longstanding collaboration between PMPRB and CIHI, who is responsible for collecting and validating the data and database maintenance. Currently, the NDPUIS database holds claims level data for Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

In addition, NPDUIS has access to Drug Information Number (DIN) level data from all jurisdictions (except Quebec) as well as data from the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) plan, which covers First Nations and Inuit populations.