For over a decade, we’ve collaborated with the generic pharmaceutical industry to lower the prices of generic drugs, increase public coverage, and improve price consistency across public drug plans, while supporting a stable market for generic drugs. Together, we’ve built a transparent pricing system and enabled substantial savings for people in Canada — whether they have public coverage, private coverage, or pay out of pocket.
In 2024–25, we saved public drug plans about $935 million on generic drugs.
How generic drugs are priced
Pricing for generic drugs differs from pricing for brand-name drugs, which is determined through negotiations with individual manufacturers. For generic drugs, we signed an agreement with the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) that supports consistent, predictable pricing through initiatives such as the tiered pricing framework (TPF) and select molecule pricing, as well as the historical products policy.
Pricing agreement
In October 2023, we agreed to a new 3-year pricing agreement.
Pricing for new single-source generics
A key element of the agreement is how pricing is set for new single-source generic drugs entering the TPF.
- The price of new single-source generic drugs automatically decreases from 75% to 55% of the brand reference price after 3 months of funding in a participating public plan.
- If additional generic manufacturers enter the Canadian market before the 3-month period ends, dual-source or multi-source pricing rules apply as soon as the other products are available.
Changes to the select molecules list
Famciclovir and Minocycline were removed from the pan-Canadian select molecules list.
Non-formulary drugs
Generic drugs launched after October 1, 2023, and that aren’t formulary benefits will be assessed through the TPF if they’re publicly funded through a defined and transparent public program.
- Generic drugs funded through the Ontario Exceptional Access Program (EAP) are recognized for assessment through the TPF.
- Other defined public drug programs may be considered for inclusion in the TPF in the future.
pan-Canadian select molecules
Select molecules have fixed prices representing a certain percentage of each molecule’s brand reference price. These drugs are widely used across participating drug plans.
Historical products policy
The historical product policy addresses generic drugs whose brand reference product has been cancelled post-market on or before April 1, 2014.
For manufacturers
Use this section to access forms, guidance, and key information related to generic drug submissions and pricing.
Processes and frameworks
See each process or framework page for more information.
Forms
Manufacturers are required to submit one of the following forms to the pCPA for all products entering and exiting the Canadian market, including the pan-Canadian select molecules, or to request a price change for an existing product. Please note that these forms don’t replace existing product listing requirements in participating jurisdictions.
Please refer to the relevant framework or process page for more information, including eligibility and conditions.
Resources
Explore key reference documents to support your generic drug submissions and pricing requests.
pan-Canadian generic price confirmation process flowchart
How we apply the TPF to determine appropriate pricing
Market exit TPF eligibility flowchart
The 4 stages that can lead us to recommend that drug plans delist an exiting generic product
pan-Canadian select molecules
The complete list of select molecules and their fixed prices
Historical products policy
How we price generic drugs whose brand reference product was classified as cancelled post-market on or before April 1, 2018
Generic categories report
Our generic categories report lists generic drug prices and pricing tiers for products that have been reviewed through the TPF. The report is a snapshot from a specific point in time. It’s meant to be a helpful reference, but because TPF categories are dynamic and prices can change over time, it may not reflect the TPF price that will apply when a new assessment is completed.
For that reason, the report should be used as a general guide only and not relied upon to predict future TPF pricing decisions.
If you don’t see your product category listed in the report, we encourage you to submit a pre-assessment request.
Current generic categories report – February 2026
Archive
- Generic categories report September 2025
- Generic categories report February 2025
- Generic categories report August 2024
- Generic categories report February 2024
- Generic categories report July 2023
- Generic categories report July 2022
- Generic categories report January 2022
- Generic categories report July 2021
- Generic categories Report January 2021