The Province, health authorities and Health Shared Services BC, and B.C.'s federal partners are working together to protect patient care and avoid disruptions during a Canada-wide shortage of certain medications used primarily in hospitals, Health Minister Michael de Jong said.

Drug manufacturer Sandoz Canada, which is a key supplier of the country's injectable drugs, has temporarily suspended manufacturing and/or reduced the amounts produced of a number of its products due to operational issues. This decrease in supply may last for up to 18 months.

This has caused lower stocks in hospitals in B.C. and throughout Canada of some routinely used drugs, especially injectable narcotics such as morphine, hydromorphone and fentanyl. These drugs are used to treat moderate to severe pain in such cases as patients after surgery and cancer patients.

Today de Jong said the Ministry of Health and its federal and provincial partners have been working closely together to ensure all hospitals have these critical supplies. Hospitals and health authorities have shared stocks when necessary and will continue to pool resources. Hospitals are also using oral versions of some of the drugs when appropriate.

The Province is exploring securing international supplies and has identified potential supply in the Unites States, the United Kingdom, Austria, Australia, France, Ireland and Germany. British Columbia is working with other provinces, such as Manitoba and Alberta, to look at joint contracting opportunities with alternate suppliers.

At this time, there has been no known effect on patient care. However, if stocks continue to decrease, elective procedures may have to be rescheduled at some locations. Health authorities have not yet had to make any such decisions.

Palliative care patients, emergencies and those requiring life-saving procedures will be given top priority for these drugs, de Jong said.

Quotes:

Minister of Health Michael de Jong -

"This situation reveals one of the benefits of central planning through Health Shared Services BC, which is co-ordinating the supply of medications."

Lynda Cranston, chair, Health Shared Services BC Management Board -

"As the central co-ordinating resource for the province, we have focused on ensuring B.C. health authorities have a reliable supply of Sandoz products, as well as identifying alternative suppliers that can be accessed expeditiously."

"HSSBC is monitoring available supplies of Sandoz products on a provincewide basis and arranging for supplies to be shared between sites and health authorities as needed."

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

BACKGROUNDER

March 7, 2012 Ministry of Health

B.C. response to drug shortage a co-ordinated effort

Health Shared Services BC (HSSBC) has co-ordinated the provincial response to the shortage of hospital drugs manufactured by Sandoz Canada. The Ministry of Health and the health authorities are active partners in the process. Planning and mitigation began as soon as Sandoz informed the Province of the expected shortages last month.

The provincial response co-ordinated by HSSBC has included the following:

• Health authority chief executive officers meet daily via telephone with HSSBC and the ministry to report on current situations in each region and to offer help and support.
• Each health authority has established an emergency operations committee to manage the situation. A provincewide committee is also in effect.
• Pharmacists in each hospital and health authority pharmacy have done a full inventory of all drug supplies and continue to monitor supply daily.
• HSSBC has established an emergency order process with Sandoz Canada to make sure hospitals that need a critical drug receive it. This process was used to ship narcotics supplies via flight to Cranbrook last week.
• Health authorities and hospitals have been sharing drug stocks when necessary. For example, on Monday Vancouver General Hospital shared its morphine supply with Richmond Hospital when the supply was low in Richmond. Richmond has now received further supplies of the drug through an emergency order through HSSBC.
• Hospital and health authority pharmacies have also been sharing drugs that are little used in one location with others that have demand. For example, Northern Health's pharmacy was able to share most of its stock of a drug used in coronary bypass surgery with Royal Columbian Hospital, since the health authority pharmacy rarely uses it and it was in demand at the hospital.

Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)