Failed inspection leads to drug shortage across Canada
Posted February 29, 2012 5:46 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A drug shortage from pharmaceutical firm Sandoz Canada is expected to affect hospitals across the country, including St. Mike’s, which calls it “a significant issue.”
A variety of injectable drugs are in short supply, due to a failed inspection at the Sandoz Canada plant in Quebec.
The news comes from an internal hospital memo that was circulated Wednesday at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener, Ont.
Hospitals and pharmacies in southern Ontario have expressed worry about the shortage, with a doctor from St. Mike’s saying he is “quite concerned.”
The shortage includes pain medications, like morphine, often used for patients being treated for cancer and other chronic disorders.
The company released a statement, saying: “We will focus all available capacity on the supply of medically necessary injectable medicines to try to ensure that patients with critical medical conditions continue receiving adequate treatment.”
The Ministry of Health told CityNews no patients are in immediate risk of going without medication, but if it’s deemed necessary, Health Canada will look into fast-tracking other drugs in circulation.
CityNews has learned some of the drugs impacted include:
- Amiodarone
- Ciprofloxacin
- Clindamycin
- Gentamicin
- Tobramycin
- Dimenhydrinate
- Ondansetron
- Prochlorperazine
- Fentanyl
- Hydromorphone
- Ketorolac
- Midazolam
- Morphine
- Nalbuphine
- Potassium Phosphate
- Furosemide
- Ranitidine
- Glycopyrrolate
- Haloperidol
- Heparin
More to come
