Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) (euthanasia) program costs an average of C$2,000 to C$5,000 per case, according to Health Canada’s latest data — a fraction of the C$10,000–C$15,000 typically spent on a natural hospital death in palliative or acute care.
The 2023 Annual MAiD Report found the figure includes clinician time, medication, administrative review, and coroner’s oversight. While the issue remains controversial, health economists say the data highlight both the program’s medical structure and its relatively low fiscal footprint.
Most of the cost stems from professional fees — between C$1,500 and C$2,000 — and administrative expenses like case reviews, coroner’s certification, and pharmacy preparation. The medications themselves cost just C$50 to C$300, depending on provincial drug pricing.
According to Health Canada’s 2023 Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), a total of 44,958 Canadians have died through MAiD since the practice was legalized in 2016. In 2023 alone, there were approximately 13,500 assisted deaths, accounting for about 4.7 per cent of all deaths nationwide, up from 4.1 per cent in 2022.
Clinical guidelines from the Canadian Association of MAiD Assessors and Providers (CAMAP) show a standard intravenous three- or four-drug protocol: midazolam for sedation, propofol for anesthesia, and rocuronium or cisatracurium to stop breathing, sometimes preceded by lidocaine to prevent irritation.
Health Canada emphasized that these are the same medications used safely in anesthesia and critical care — not experimental substances.
Although the Parliamentary Budget Officer previously estimated savings from reduced end-of-life hospital costs, critics argue that focusing on cost risks oversimplifying ethical concerns.
Still, the program’s continued expansion and relatively modest expense make it one of the most closely tracked aspects of Canadian health policy.