Economic Burden of Illness in Canada

The Economic Burden of Illness in Canada (EBIC) provides objective and comparable information on the magnitude of the cost of illness and injury in Canada based on standard reporting units and methods. These data can be used in further economic analyses and economic evaluations, and along with other health indicators, provide an important piece of the evidence required for health policy and planning.

EBIC provides a comprehensive overview regarding the distribution of direct and indirect costs of illness in Canada. The methods used by EBIC determine the opportunity cost to society of illness or injury by translating illness, injury, into direct costs (hospital, physician, drug, research and other institutional care expenditures) and indirect costs (lost production due to disability and premature mortality).