Nova Scotia Pharmacare

Drug Formulary

The Nova Scotia Formulary details which drugs and supplies are benefits under the Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program, Family Pharmacare Program, Diabetes Assistance Program, Community Services Pharmacare Programs, and Drug Assistance for Cancer Patients.

• Nova Scotia Formulary - You can view and search the current Formulary in PDF format here. It is updated monthly. In order to view PDF format files, you need to have Adobe Acrobat® Reader installed on your computer. You can download this free software from the Adobe Web site.

• To view our Criteria for Coverage of Exception Status Drugs, or to access our Forms for Exception Status Drug Requests, please click here.

How to Search the Formulary
To search for specific text and page content in the PDF version of the Formulary, you can:

• Right click the document and choose "Find" from the pop-up menu. In the upper right of the window, enter your search term and click the arrows to navigate to each instance

• Perform a more complex search for whole words, phrases, comments, and other options by doing either of the following:

- In a web browser, click the binoculars at the left of the window. If the binoculars are not there, right click the document and choose "Show Navigation Pane Buttons".

- In the Adobe Reader application, choose Edit > Advanced Search.

What is Included in the Formulary?
All medications in the Formulary are classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification System which groups chemically similar products according to their site of action and facilitates the comparison of new medicines with previously available medicines.

The Formulary also provides:

• Brand or Manufacturer's name of the drug, including dosage form and/or route and strength

• Prescriber codes associated with each benefit under the Pharmacare Programs. These codes indicate which benefits will be reimbursed when prescribed by a specific prescriber

• Benefit status (plans for which the product is a benefit)

• Drug Identification Number (DIN)

• Abbreviation of manufacturer

• Interchangeable product groups (indicated by products in the same box)

• Maximum Reimbursable Price - MRP (if applicable)

Please Note: The information contained in the Formulary requires knowledge to properly interpret and is intended primarily for use by physicians, pharmacists, and other health care practitioners involved in the prescribing, dispensing and administration of pharmaceuticals.