In 2019, total health expenditure in Canada was expected to reach $264 billion, or $ 7,068 per person. It is anticipated that, overall, health spending represented 11.6% of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP). To learn more, see our report National Health Expenditure Trends.

To track how health dollars are being spent, we maintain these databases:

National Health Expenditure Database (NHEX), the primary source of health spending information in Canada

Canadian MIS Database (CMDB), the primary source of information on staffing, cost, workload and provision of health services

Canadian Patient Cost Database (CPCD), the data source used to estimate costs by patient group

OECD Health Database (Canadian Segment), maintained by CIHI and Statistics Canada, the data source that includes a consistent series of internationally comparable data for most of the 1,200 variables contained in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) database

Combined, these data sources help us provide our stakeholders with trend analyses and short-term forecasts on health spending in Canada. They also track hospital financial performance and spending related to patient care.

Information on health spending data

Key reports and analyses

Trends in Hospital Expenditure, 2005–2006 to 2017–2018 (Feb. 2019)

Using the Canadian MIS Database (CMDB), examine data and statistics about how hospital expenditure varies by use of funds and by types of hospital care services at the provincial, territorial and international levels.

National Health Expenditure Trends, 1975 to 2019 (Oct. 2019)

This report provides an overview of how much is spent on health care annually, what and who the money is being spent on, and where the money comes from.

Prescribed Drug Spending in Canada, 2019: A Focus on Public Drug Programs (Dec. 2019)

This report provides an in-depth look at public drug program spending using data from CIHI’s National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System (NPDUIS).

Hospital spending (2019)

This release provides an in-depth look at spending in public hospitals annually. Find out how funds provided to hospitals are spent by patient group and by program across the country.

Understanding Variability in the Cost of a Standard Hospital Stay (May. 2017) (PDF)

This report explores observed variability in the indicator Cost of a Standard Hospital Stay, considering such things as staff mix, teaching status and facility size.

Health Spending — Nursing Homes (Nov. 2014)

This information sheet contains key messages on health spending in nursing homes including how much is spent, who is providing the care and the role of the private sector.

Databases and data sources

National Health Expenditure Database

The National Health Expenditure Database (NHEX) collects, processes and analyzes summary data on all health spending in Canada. It has a wealth of data, extending back to 1975. The data tables are updated annually and are available free of charge.

The information facilitates provincial/territorial, national and international comparative reporting and also supports policy planning, decision-making and research. It helps answer questions about

How much is spent on health care every year

What the money is used for and whom it is spent on

Where that money comes from

Canadian MIS Database

The Canadian MIS Database (CMDB) is the national data source for financial and statistical information about hospitals and other health service organizations.

The information in the CMDB can potentially be used to cost the activities of health service organizations. It forms the basis of management reporting, including annual general purpose financial statements, financial ratio analysis and operational budgeting.

Canadian Patient Cost Database

The Canadian Patient Cost Database (CPCD) contains patient-level data from more than 60 organizations in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Costs relate to the individual encounter level for inpatient, outpatient, long-term care, complex continuing care, mental health and rehabilitation services.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Health Database (Canadian Segment)

The OECD Health Database (Canadian Segment) is a result of the collaboration between CIHI and Statistics Canada. It processes a consistent series of internationally comparable data for most of the 1,200 variables contained in the OECD database.

The database supports policy planning, decision-making and research, and facilitates international comparative reporting. The OECD Health Database is divided into 11 categories and can be downloaded from the OECD's website. External link, opens in new window

Metadata

Metadata is information about data. It helps users understand and interpret data from a specific source.

Find out more about the following data sources:

Canadian MIS Database (CMDB)

Canadian Patient Cost Database (CPCD)

National Health Expenditure Database (NHEX)

OECD Health Database (Canadian Segment)

Methodology

Data for NHEX is extracted from public documents, including national and provincial/territorial public accounts and other financial reports. Other sources include:

Private insurance companies

The firm AC Nielsen Canada

Statistics Canada.

Our methodology for reporting on trends in health spending, including how spending is categorized, is available in our annual report.

The CMDB records financial and statistical information based on a standardized chart of accounts. Hospitals and other health service organizations, including health regions, are expected to submit MIS Standards–compliant financial and statistical data relating to health services to the CMDB. Most health service organizations submit their data through their respective ministries of health.

A subset of health service organizations also track their spending by patient and are able to allocate costs to specific encounters in accordance with CIHI’s Patient Costing Methodology (PDF). These organizations submit patient-level costs to the CPCD.

Most Canadian data for the OECD Health Database originates from

Databases maintained by CIHI and Statistics Canada, such as the health expenditures, health services and health professionals databases

Demographic and vital statistics databases at Statistics Canada

We welcome your feedback and questions

Contact us at these email addresses:

Canadian MIS Database (CMDB): fsi@cihi.ca

Canadian Patient Cost Database (CPCD): fsi@cihi.ca

National Health Expenditure Database (NHEX): nhex@cihi.ca

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Health Database (Canadian Segment): oecdcs@cihi.ca

Have a data inquiry or research question? Make a data request.