Letter to Editor regarding the article "La pénurie de medicaments - Lettre adressée à l'honorable Leona Aglukkaq, ministre de la santé, Gouvernement du Canada" (Journal de Montreal - April 1, 2012)

2012-50
April 1, 2012
For immediate release

OTTAWA - I am writing in response to the April 1, 2012 letter from Bernard Deshaies, Pharmacien au Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire régional du CSSS de Trois-Rivières on the issue of drug shortages.

I want to assure Mr, Deshaies and pharmacists across Canada that minimizing the impact of drug shortages on Canadians has long been one of my top priorities. For example, for some time now I have been encouraging drug makers to be more transparent on actual and potential drug shortages so that doctors and pharmacists have the time and information they need to shift patient treatments if necessary. As a result there are web sites now up and running that report such information. I have also secured a commitment and funding from industry associations to have a national, one-stop drug shortages monitoring and reporting system up and running in 2012.

To deal with the immediate impact of the Sandoz shortage, Health Canada is also expediting our approval of sources of replacement supplies of drugs that are in shortage. To date the Department has approved 11 drug submissions for replacement supplies as well as 50 requests for emergency access to needed drugs. Health Canada has also approved 10 additional foreign sites to Sandoz's list of approved sites to perform manufacturing and product testing for the Canadian market. While we are expediting our reviews, we will also ensure that safety is not compromised.

Canadians can be assured that Health Canada will continue to play its part by approving alternative sources of supply during the Sandoz shortage and working with our partners, including front-line pharmacists, to find longer term solutions that help cushion patients against possible future shortages.

Sincerely,

Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health

-30-