Montreal, QC, October 10, 2025 – The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) and its Biosimilars Canada division welcome the decision by the Government of Quebec to increase the number of formulary updates to the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) lists of medications from nine to 12 per year beginning in 2026.
This initiative, which reflects the recommendations made by CGPA in its 2025-2026 pre-budget submission to the Minister of Finance, will accelerate the market entry of generic and biosimilar medicines and generate substantial savings for Quebec’s healthcare system.
In 2022, a study conducted by Aviseo Consulting in collaboration with the CGPA, estimated that increasing the number of formulary updates to 12 per year, the government could save up to $5 million annually on generics only.[1] This measure will, therefore, directly contribute to improving patient access to medicines while optimizing the use of taxpayers’ money.
“We applaud the leadership and commitment demonstrated by the Government of Quebec in accelerating the market entry of generic and biosimilar medicines and in ensuring more access to prescription drugs for patients across the province,” said Jim Keon, President of the CGPA.
This announcement is part of the recent reforms aimed at strengthening the equity and transparency of the public prescription drug insurance plan. Among these reforms, CGPA welcomes the tightening of the rules surrounding the “Do Not Substitute” (DNS) designation, which encourages greater use of generic medicines, as well as the revision of the Exceptional Patient Measure, which corrects a grey area that had sometimes allowed costly and clinically unjustified exemptions.
To view the CGPA recommendations submitted to the Quebec Minister of Finance, please visit: www.finances.gouv.qc.ca/ministere/outils_services/consultations_publiques/consultations_prebudgetaires/2025-2026/memoires/Asso_canadienne_medicament.pdf
[1] Aviseo Consulting. January 2022. Budget impact study of more frequent updates to the RAMQ list of medications.
About the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) represents Canada’s generic pharmaceutical industry. The industry plays an important role in controlling health-care costs in Quebec. Generic drugs are dispensed to fill more than 81% of all prescriptions but account for only 25.2% of the $11.4 billion Quebecers spend annually on prescription medicines. For more information, visit canadiangenerics.ca.
About Biosimilars Canada
Biosimilars Canada is a national association representing the biosimilar medicines industry in Canada. Our member companies are at the forefront of the global development and marketing of biosimilar medicines. Biosimilars Canada provides leadership in educating Canadian stakeholders about the safety and efficacy of biosimilar medicines, and advocates for policies that support their timely approval, reimbursement, market acceptance and expanded use. Biosimilars Canada is a division of the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association. Visit us at biosimilarscanada.ca.
Contact:
Jeff Connell
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA)
Mobile: (647) 274-3379
Email: jeff@canadiangenerics.ca