Canada - Ministers of Health Announce Early Achievements to Help Reduce the Impact of Drug Shortages

EDMONTON, ALBERTA, Sep 13, 2013 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Federal Minister of Health, the Honourable Fred Horne, Minister of Health for Alberta, with members of the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee on Drug Shortages, today announced a national protocol for the public notification of drug shortages and a toolkit that identifies steps that can be taken to prevent and reduce the impact of drug shortages.

The protocol and toolkit are designed to put the health and safety of Canadian patients first when communicating about drug shortages.

"Our government understands the potential impact of drug shortages," said Minister Ambrose. "We are taking action and working together with all stakeholders across the healthcare system. This announcement reinforces that all levels of government and all parts of the supply chain have a role to play in communicating, addressing and preventing shortages."

Today's announcement will give doctors, pharmacists, health care practitioners and all stakeholders clear and concise information on drug shortages, so they can make the best decisions for their patients.

"This partnership really represents a new way of addressing drugs shortages that recognizes both the complexity of the issues, and the necessity of involving key players all the way along - from industry to governments to health care providers to patients," said Minister Horne. "This is essential because none of us has the capacity to resolve interruptions in supply of medications on our own."

Announced today is a protocol and toolkit that was created from the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee on Drug Shortages (MSCC). The Protocol for the Notification and Communication of Drug Shortages sets out clear expectations for how and when stakeholders across the supply chain share information about drug shortages. The toolkit identifies measures across the supply chain to prevent and reduce the impact of drug shortages.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ministers-of-health-announce-early-achievements-to-help-reduce-the-impact-of-drug-shortages-2013-09-13