PharmaCare Downloadable Drug Data File

About the Downloadable Drug Data File

As previously announced, the older Chemical Drug Classes, Alternative Drug Categories, RDP Categories and PharmaNet Drug Master data files are no longer available for download. For LCA and RDP data, see the Low Cost Alternative (LCA) and Reference Drug Program (RDP) Data Files page.

PharmaCare provides comprehensive and up-to-date drug data in the PharmaCare Downloadable Drug Data File. This file mirrors the drug data information in PharmaCare’s Formulary Search.

This file is updated weekly every Wednesday.

Important information about the downloadable data file

  • The information in this file is provided as a convenience only and should not be relied on as authoritative or complete.
  • The Ministry of Health updates the information on this website periodically, but cannot guarantee that the information is current or accurate.
  • Information in this file requires knowledgeable interpretation and is intended primarily for professional health care practitioners, pharmacies, hospitals and organizations associated with the manufacture, distribution and use of pharmaceutical preparations.
  • The Ministry of Health makes no warranty or representation, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the data.

Questions about this file? Please send a detailed email to PharmaCare.

Zip version: File Last updated on February 2, 2012

Notes:

  • The data file is in the Unix text Comma Separated Value (CSV) format. Line breaks end in <LF> instead of <CR><LF> (ascii 10 instead of ascii 13, ascii 10).  The Unix text format will not affect line breaks in common PC software products such as Excel, Word and MS Access.  In some older software products (such as Notepad), however, the lines breaks will not appear.  There are several freely available utilities to convert one format to another. 
  • Because of its large size, the file is provided in Zip format for easier download.
  • Because of its large size, this file must be opened using a 2007 or later version of Excel.

How to interpret the data file