To reduce drug shortages, a new study suggests we should look to Canada

Of 104 reports of supply chain problems involving dozens of drugs, Canada was 40% less likely to experience meaningful shortages than in the U.S., a new study found, with the difference largely attributed to the government’s handling of the problem. Canadian government. .

Between 2017 and 2021, regulators in the US and Canada received the same number of reports of actual or potential shortages for the same 96 drugs. Within a year, 49% of 104 related reports received by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration were associated with a significant shortage, but only 34% of reports for the same drugs submitted to Health Canada reached that stage, according to the study published in JAMA.

The study also found that, after combining reports of supply chain problems from both the US and Canada, the shortage risk was almost half for so-called Level 3 drugs in Canada. This refers to shortages that have the greatest potential impact on Canada’s drug supply and healthcare system. A special government committee oversees the process for assessing risk and impact, and taking action.

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