Doctor reassuring a patient during a consultation, with message promoting treatment adherence for World Adherence Day.

While adherence is often discussed in the context of cardiovascular health,
the stakes in oncology are uniquely high. In Canada, the use of oral anticancer agents (OAAs) has surged, now representing half of all cancer drugs sold in
the country.1 This shift toward home-based care places an immense responsibility on patients to remember their schedules and maintain therapeutic persistence daily. 

The Daily Challenge of Adherence in Canada  

A patient is considered “non-adherent” if they follow less than 80% of their prescribed treatment plan.2 Recent Canadian data highlights a concerning reality where consistency is often lost: 

  • Approximately 26% of Canadians admit to taking their medications differently than prescribed, 
    often due to forgetfulness or altered routines.3
  • In oncology, adherence rates for oral therapies can be highly variable, sometimes falling as low
    as 46% depending on the study.4
  • Missing doses or losing consistency can lead to reduced treatment efficacy, increased  healthcare service use, and ultimately, lower survival rate.5 Key barriers identified in Canada include the difficulty of managing side effects over time and the mental load of remembering complex regimens—compounded by financial pressures
    for 22% of the population.6

A Campaign to Remember: #DONTMISSAMOMENT. 

A person taking a pill out of the bottle under the message “Stay on track with medication” for World Adherence Day.

Every dose taken as prescribed is a step toward a cherished milestone: a birthday, a walk in nature, or quality time with family. This is the heart of the #DontMissAMoment campaign. It serves as a vital reminder that adhering to a treatment plan is about more than clinical data; it is about protecting these essential life moments. 

Visit the World
Adherence Day website

Therapeutic adherence is a major public health priority that requires constant vigilance. Despite its long- term impact on the sustainability of the Canadian healthcare system, the need for daily persistence
is often underestimated.

To support Canadian patients in staying on track, Servier focuses on three critical pillars: 

A bottle and two different pills under the title “Personalized support” and a message at the bottom that reads “Partnering with patient advocacy groups to provide tools that help patients manage side effects and remain committed to their therapy”
A cellphone with a heart in the screen and a heartbeat line under the title “Memory and tracking tools” and a message at the bottom that reads “Promoting digital innovation and reminders that help patients track their treatment regimens and maintain consistency at home”
A book with a heart in the left page and a heartbeat line under it, a hand pointing to the right page under a red cross and a red banner at the bottom that reads “Working alongside healthcare professionals to reinforce the importance of adherence during every patient interaction”

Join the Movement  

You too can act today to protect tomorrow. This World Adherence Day, help us remind our community about the importance of adhering to a treatment plan. A simple reminder can help save a life. 

#DONTMISSAMOMENT

1. Canadian Cancer Society: “National poll finds nearly 1 in 4 people in Canada report measures such as skipping doses, splitting pills, not filling prescriptions due to cost”,“https://cancer.ca/en/about-us/mediareleases/2024/national-pharmacare, extracted on February 17, 2026. 

2. Medication Adherence in Cancer Patients: A Comprehensive Review, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10880514/, extracted on February 17, 2026. 

3. Improving Medication Adherence, https://www.thinkresearch.com/ca/2022/03/08/improving-medication-non-adherence/, extracted on February 17, 2026.

4. Patient Adherence to Oral Anticancer Agents: A Mapping Review of Supportive Interventions, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10743037/, extracted on February 17, 2026 

5. Patient Adherence to Oral Anticancer Agents: A Mapping Review of Supportive Interventions, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10743037/, extracted on February 17, 2026.

6. World Adherence Day Website, https://world-heart-federation.org/world-adherence-day/, extracted on February 17, 2026.   

27/03/2026