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Government fast-tracks approvals for vital drugs

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Government fast-tracks approvals for vital drugs

The federal government is working to fast-track approvals of alternative supplies of key medications as hospitals across the country cope with an ongoing shortage that is jeopardizing surgeries…Libby Davies, the New Democrat health critic, agrees that the main objective should be to find substitutes for the medicines that are in temporary short supply amid ongoing problems at the factory that manufactures about 90 per cent of Canada's generic injectable drugs. At the same time, Ms. Davies said Thursday, the government must start living up to its commitment to honour an NDP motion that says drug manufacturers will be required to promptly report any planned disruption or discontinuation in production to Health Canada as well as the provinces and territories.

The original article, Government fast-tracks approvals for vital drugs was published on March 16, 2012 in The Globe and Mail. Author(s): Gloria Galloway

Libby asks Conservative government to support drug shortages motion

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Posted on 2012.03.15

Libby asks Conservative government to support drug shortages motion

 

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House of Commons

HANSARD

March 14, 2012

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):  

Mr. Speaker, earlier in response to a question by the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister claimed that the plan in the NDP motion on drug shortages is already being done.

If that were the case, why are the provinces, the territories and health professionals all calling for federal action and leadership? The NDP motion explicitly calls for leadership.

I ask the minister very directly, will the government support the NDP motion and will it take the immediate action prescribed in the motion, yes or no?

Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (Minister of Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, CPC):  

Mr. Speaker, we want to ensure that patients and doctors have access to the information about potential drug shortages. However, the truth is there is no mandatory reporting requirements that could predict a fire that would shut down the production of critical drugs. If Health Canada inspectors needed to shut down a plant for a violation, we can keep it open 90 days to meet the mandatory reporting requirements. Mandatory reporting is not a silver bullet for drug shortages. As long as there is one sole-source drug provider for all the provinces and territories, we remain at risk of shortages. We are going to support the provinces and territories in addressing the issue.

Statement by New Democrat Leader Nycole Turmel on the adoption of the NDP motion on drug shortages

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Posted on 2012.03.15

Statement by New Democrat Leader Nycole Turmel on the adoption of the NDP motion on drug shortages

This evening, New Democrats got results for Canadian families and took a step in the right direction to put an end to the country’s current drug shortage.

The other parties in the House followed the NDP lead to ensure that such shortages do not happen again by voting to establish a national strategy to anticipate, identify and manage shortages of essential drugs. 

Drug shortages like the one that provinces and hospitals now face are completely avoidable. The NDP wants to make sure Canadians are not affected by future shortages.

Our motion would require drug manufacturers to inform Health Canada of any planned disruptions or drug supply shortages.

Now that our motion has been adopted unanimously by the House, we won’t give up. It’s just the first step.

The health of Canadians that’s at stake and it’s time to take action. The Conservatives must  ensure that drug shortages become a thing of the past—they must take their responsibilities seriously. New Democrats will continue to hold the Conservative government accountable and protect patients and families all across the country. 

Opposition takes shots at Aglukkaq over lack of action on drug shortage – Libby Davies

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Opposition takes shots at Aglukkaq over lack of action on drug shortage

Pressure continues to mount on federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq to take stronger action to solve the burgeoning medication shortage in Canada. Drug shortfalls have been occurring more frequently in the last two to three years, both in Canada and around the world. But recent production cuts by Quebec-based generic pharmaceutical company Sandoz have left even bigger gaps in the drug supply…In Ottawa on Tuesday, NDP health critic Libby Davies accused Aglukkaq in the Commons of failing to take concrete steps to deal with the drug shortage, including making it mandatory for pharmaceutical companies to report production shortfalls for specific products. Such reporting is now voluntary, although drug makers increasingly are reporting shortages in their product lines. “The fact is, this minister has refused to stand up and show the leadership that is required on this crisis,” Davies told the House.

The original article, Opposition takes shots at Aglukkaq over lack of action on drug shortage was published on March 13, 2012 in Winnipeg Free Press. Author(s): Sheryl Ubelacker

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