Price of EpiPens remains stable in Canada as it skyrockets in the U.S.

The price of an EpiPen has increased by about 500 per cent in the U.S. since 2009, but people with severe allergies should be protected from that kind of price hike in Canada.

Beatrice Povolo is the director of advocacy for Food Allergy Canada and she explains that strict regulations control the price of medications in Canada, including EpiPens that are used to treat severe allergic reactions.

“As such, we’re not seeing the same types of price increases here in Canada as has been recently reported in the U.S.,” she said. “In fact the price of EpiPens in Canada over the last few years has remained fairly consistent at about $100 to $120 per device.”

In the U.S. the cost of two EpiPens has gone up to $600, making it unaffordable to some American families who depend on the life-saving medication.

In Saskatchewan, EpiPens fall under the provincial formulary meaning that the cost is covered for people who qualify for provincial drug plans including the Children’s Drug Plan,  the Seniors’ Drug Plan and the drug plan for low income families. While middle income families are not covered provincially for prescriptions like EpiPens, they are covered under most work-related benefit plans.