Our statistics serve as a clear and concrete warning signal to every health care stakeholder of the increasing and undeniable impact of this population group on the health care system. It remained the number one reason Canadians see their doctor, accounting for 16 million patient visits in 1999. Synthroid, a product indicated for the treatment of hypothyroidism sold by Knoll Pharma, was the most dispensed medication in 1999. Prescriptions for this product grew by 14 per cent in 1999. Two main factors are behind the increase in the number of prescriptions written for Synthroid.
Recent studies suggest that the prevalence of the disease is higher than what was first thought.
The wave of mergers and acquisitions seen in the research-based industry in the past few years has lead to several changes in the ranking of Canada's top pharmaceutical companies. Long time leader, Merck Frosst, is now in the number two position with a slight decrease of 0.3 per cent due to unexpected competition created by a generic version of its top-selling blood pressure drug, Vasotec. All Rights Reserved.