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Ontario coverage, price, criteria word for word, Health Canada status and shortages for one product

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AZITHROMYCIN

All products: not a benefit

Other products in the same Health Canada class (J01FA) — coverage varies; not interchangeable

  • Clarithromycin (Biaxin XL): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Erythromycin base (Erythromid): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Erythromycin estolate (Ilosone): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Erythromycin ethylsuccinate (Ees-200): general benefit, Not a benefit

Zithromax · DIN 02231143 · 600mg · tablet

Listed, not a benefit; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2025-07-08 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.Discontinued 2025-07-08 · checked 2026-09-20
StatusListed, not a benefit; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2025-07-08 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Write on scriptnot a benefit; no Exceptional Access criteria on record; see alternatives; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2025-07-08 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
Ontario Limited Use criteria — code 549
Reason for Use code 549 For the prevention of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease in persons with advanced HIV infections. Coverage limit: LU Authorization Period: 1 year
1 brand, same coverage
Zithromax · DIN 02231143 Manufacturer: Pfizer Canada Inc.; listing date 1998-12-31 Health Canada: Cancelled post market since 2025-07-08 · brand ZITHROMAX 600MG · ATC J01FA10 AZITHROMYCIN · form Tablet · route Oral · ingredients AZITHROMYCIN 600 MG · company Pfizer canada ulc · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Zithromax: Formulary list price not recorded/unit (unit not stated in source; not the patient's cost)

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=50450 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 02231143)

Source record
DIN 02231143: Zithromax Raw flags: notABenefit=Y, sec3=Y Item: 081212028; group id 20; item number 0031; lccId 00313; manufacturer id PFI Source form: Tab; strength: 600mg Recorded listing: Listed, not a benefit; ODB pays only for the benefit products in this interchangeable category Source prices (unrounded): not recorded; ministry not recorded Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=02231143 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=50450
Interchangeable products
PMS-Azithromycin · DIN 02261642 · $10.6652
Shortage status: not checked (no credentials)
Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2025-07-08 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Other drugs in the same formulary class (08:12:12 Erythromycins) and how they are covered

Matched class: 08:12:12 Erythromycins

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. Some products covered without a code (check the product listing): CLARITHROMYCIN, ERYTHROMYCIN BASE, ERYTHROMYCIN ESTOLATE, ERYTHROMYCIN ETHYLSUCCINATE 08:12:12 Erythromycins

CLARITHROMYCIN

· 25 products · General benefit; DIN status E (meaning unconfirmed); confirm discontinuation/availability with Health Canada (1), General benefit (15), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (9) · strengths: 500mg, 125mg/5mL, 250mg/5mL, 250mg · ER Tab, Ped Gran, Susp, Tab

ERYTHROMYCIN BASE

· 2 products · Listed, not a benefit (1), General benefit (1) · strengths: 250mg · Tab

ERYTHROMYCIN ESTOLATE

· 2 products · Listed, not a benefit (1), General benefit (1) · strengths: 50mg/mL · O/L

ERYTHROMYCIN ETHYLSUCCINATE

· 4 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (2) · strengths: 40mg/mL, 80mg/mL · O/L Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 08:12:12
Full class listing Related classes: 08:12:04 Antifungals, 08:12:07 Carbapenems, 08:12:16 Penicillins, 08:12:24 Tetracyclines, 08:12:28 Other Antibiotics, 08:14:08 Azoles Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
Other drugs whose Health Canada label lists a similar indication: disseminated mycobacterium avium complex
From Health Canada product monographs; label wording only, not a treatment recommendation. Matching is lexical and uses one held product label per generic; formulations and qualifying criteria may differ. No displayed matched alternative is a general benefit. RIFABUTIN · Limited Use, codes 103, 104 (1), Temporary benefit (1) • the prevention of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease in patients with advanced HIV infection (CD4+ cell count 200/mm3 with an AIDS defining diagnosis, or CD4+ cell count  100/mm3 without an AIDS defining diagnosis). PM: https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00073866.PDF; date SEPT 24, 2003; DIN 02063786; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph Coverage source: ON formulary extract 2026-08-26
What the Health Canada label says it is for
1. Indications pms-AZITHROMYCIN (azithromycin) is indicated in adults for treatment of mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the following diseases and specific conditions. As recommended dosages, durations of therapy, and applicable patient populations vary among these infections, see 4 Dosage and Administration for specific dosing recommendations. Because some strains are resistant to azithromycin, when applicable, appropriate culture and susceptibility tests should be initiated before treatment to determine the causative organism and its susceptibility to azithromycin. Therapy with pms-AZITHROMYCIN may be initiated before results of these tests are known; once the results become available, antibiotic treatment should be adjusted accordingly. Pharyngitis and tonsillitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A β-hemolytic streptococci) occurring in individuals who cannot use first line therapy. NOTE: Penicillin is the usual drug of choice in the treatment of Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngitis, including the prophylaxis of rheumatic fever. Azithromycin is often effective in the eradication of susceptible strains of strep… https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00085669.PDF PM date: AUG 7, 2026 Source product: PMS-AZITHROMYCIN; DIN 02261634; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.

Other review policies

For Zithromax: no applicable EAP criteria are held and no ODB benefit is established. These policies do not establish coverage.

For rare, immediately life-, limb- or organ-threatening circumstances, the Compassionate Review Policy may consider an unfunded drug or indication, subject to its criteria and without bypassing the drug review process. Compassionate Review Policy

Compassionate Review Policy: source quote
Where there are rare clinical circumstances in immediately life, limb, or organ-threatening conditions, the Executive Officer will also consider requests for drugs or indications in situations where there has not been a decision by the Executive Officer to provide funding of the drug or indication as part of the Ontario Drug Benefit program (and the EAP), and the drug or indication requested would not circumvent the established review process for new drugs or indications as part of the drug submission process for listing within the Ontario Drug Benefit program. Requests must meet the criteria for the Compassionate Review Policy.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026

For cancer drugs, Case-by-Case Review considers rare, immediately life-threatening circumstances when no satisfactory funded treatment exists; its criteria and application process apply. Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs)

Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs): source quote
Note: Requests for cancer drugs are considered under the Case-by-Case Review Program (CBCRP) which is administered by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The CBCRP considers funding requests for drugs (both oral therapies and injectable drugs) for the treatment of cancer in patients who have a rare clinical circumstance that is immediately life-threatening (death is likely within a matter of months) and who require treatment with an unfunded drug, because there is no other satisfactory and funded treatment. Please refer to the Ontario Health website for information on the application process, FAQs, eligibility criteria and program policies.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026