Health Canada Will Import Foreign Supply of Children’s Fever and Pain Meds

Health Canada Will Import Foreign Supply of Children’s Fever and Pain Meds
A container of grape-flavored Infants' Tylenol liquid medicine with the enclosed syringe and flow restrictor on Feb. 17, 2012. Amy Sancetta/AP Photo
Marnie Cathcart
Updated:
Health Canada announced Monday it is taking steps to import children’s fever and pain medication, specifically ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol), from a foreign country to alleviate a shortage that has been affecting Canada for months.

A Health Canada spokesperson could not provide The Epoch Times with which country the drugs are coming from, an exact time frame, or the size of shipment expected, but the government promised it would be “in the coming weeks” and “will increase supply available to consumers to address the immediate situation.”

“Health Canada recognizes that drug shortages can have a significant impact on patients and health care professionals and is committed to doing its part to help mitigate the impact when they occur,” the government said.

The government attributed the shortage to “unprecedented demand” and warned Canadians against hoarding.
“At this time, Canadians should buy only what they need, so that other parents and caregivers can access medication so we can meet the needs of sick children.”

Shortage of Antibiotics

Health Canada said there is also a shortage of a common antibiotic prescribed to children for things such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and ear infections. Four companies—Sanis Health Inc., Apotex Inc, GlaxoSmithKline Inc., and Teva Canada Limited—are reporting amoxicillin shortages.

Sanis Health and GSK have both attributed the cause of the shortage to increased demand, while Apotex and Teva Canada reported that a disruption in drug manufacturing is to blame for the shortage.

Health Canada said there are still eight other companies that make amoxicillin in Canada. South of the border, there is also a reported shortage in supply of the common antibiotic.

Health Canada said it undertakes a careful review before deciding a foreign batch of medication will be safe and effective. Before the product is stocked on shelves, it requires labelling in both English and French. “This work is being done in parallel to obtaining the additional foreign supply,” said the government.

Health Canada also recently approved an “exceptional importation” of children’s fever and pain medication from the United States, and Australia, to supply hospitals bursting at the seams with sick children infected with respiratory syncytial virus. Distribution of the supply of ibuprofen has started.

On Oct. 7, Health Canada said the government had spoken to several manufacturers, “including Johnson & Johnson, Haleon, and PharmaScience, to reiterate the urgent need to collaborate to find immediate solutions to this shortage so that parents and caregivers can have the medicines they need to take care of their children.”
In Canada, drug companies are required to report all actual and anticipated drug shortages and discontinuances on www.drugshortagescanada.ca within specified timeframes.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.