I don't have a number on how often that happens, but it's very frequent. In Saskatchewan, in my personal experience, there's a drug coverage booklet, let's say, that gives the cost of each medication. You're often going back and looking to see which medication to choose. While they're all approved by Health Canada and all are evidence-based, not every one is the gold standard treatment for that medical condition. There's often a time when you're having to find a cheaper option.
A couple of weeks ago, I had a patient who had a gout attack. He was in quite a lot of pain, but he didn't have any coverage. He and his wife were both working, but his wife's drug plan was $300 a month and they couldn't afford it. When he had this gout attack and we prescribed the medication he needed, he was only able to take an ibuprofen that he had at home. He just didn't have any extra money between paycheques to go and buy the medication, even though it was $20 or $25 for the prescription.
You're working with patients on a daily basis to see what they can afford. I don't have a number for you, but it's very often.