Overview
A Drug Identification Number (DIN) is a special 6–8 digit code that Health Canada gives to approved medications.
Think of it like a product barcode. It tells us important info about the drug, like the manufacturer, the active ingredients, the strength, and the type of medication it is.
For your claim, the DIN helps us confirm the drug is approved and eligible under your Plan.
Let’s take a closer look!
The details
Why we ask for a DIN
When you submit a prescription drug claim, we use the DIN to check that the medication is eligible under your Plan.
Different Plans can have different rules, so the DIN helps us make sure everything lines up.
A quick note:
- A DIN is not the same as an Rx or Tx number - Rx/Tx numbers are just transaction numbers from the pharmacy — they don’t tell us anything about the drug itself.
To make things smooth and speedy, we recommend uploading your pharmacy receipt (the one included with your prescription bag, not the register receipt).
Where to find the DIN
If your claim doesn’t include supporting documents, our team may reach out and ask for the DIN. You can find it in a few places:
- Your pharmacy receipt – this is the easiest place to spot it. Look for a number labelled DIN.
- Your prescription bottle or packaging – sometimes the DIN is printed right on the pharmacy sticker.
- Your pharmacy – if all else fails, they can quickly provide the correct DIN for your medication.
And again, Rx/Tx numbers won’t work for verification — they’re just transaction IDs.
What if my DIN isn’t 6–8 digits?
DINs are usually 6–8 digits, but some pharmacies leave off the zeroes at the beginning.
Our system needs 8 digits, so if your DIN looks short, just add zeroes to the front until it reaches 8 digits (for example, 123456 → 00123456).
Anything else?
Including the DIN with your claim helps us verify your medication faster and reduces delays.
If you can’t find it, check your pharmacy receipt or your prescription packaging first. If you’re still stuck, reach out to your pharmacy and they’ll be able to provide you with the number.