Health authorities across the country are scrambling to find alternate sources of injectable drugs, now that the country's major supplier Sandoz Canada has halted production at its Quebec plant.
But so far, as a result, there have been no cutbacks in surgery in the Northern Health region.
"At this time there is no known effect on patient care, we're not canceling elective surgeries and patients shouldn't be concerned or panic," said Steve Raper, Northern Health's director of communications. "If they have questions they should talk to their physicians.
"We are aware of it and we are planning with the province and the health authorities to certainly manage the process."
The Sandoz manufacturing plant in Boucherville, Que., suffered a fire a week ago, and it is not expected to resume operations until later this week. Sandoz announced last month it was scaling back production of about 100 medications, including antibiotics, painkillers and anesthetics, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found the plant was not meeting quality control standards.
Sandoz has stopped production of some drugs entirely or reduced the amounts it is making due to operational issues, and there could be shortages of those drugs for the next 12 to 18 months.
In hospitals across Canada that has reduced the supply of narcotics such as morphine, hydromorphone and fentanyl, used to treat severe pain after surgery and for cancer patients. The B.C. government is working with the health authorities, Health Services B.C. and federal health agencies to try to find alternate sources of injectable drugs to avoid disruptions.
Health Minister Mike de Jong said in the event of shortages, palliative care patients and those requiring emergency care and lifesaving procedures would be given priority.
In a media release, Dr. Robert Chisholm, president of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society, warns there is a real danger of the injectable drug shortage causing problems that could jeopardize the health and safety of hospital patients.
"Canadians should know that your elective surgery - and even your safety and comfort in essential surgeries - are at risk because of shortages of essential drugs," Chisholm said. "And as it stands today, Canadian governments do not even know the extent of possible shortages or their health impacts."
Chisholm wants the federal government to take a leadership role to develop a strategy that will help hospitals deal with the anticipated shortages of essential drugs.
A U.S. Department of Health study determined the demand for drugs used in hospitals is increasing, but the level of production has not kept pace. Due to corporate mergers in the industry, fewer companies are producing the drugs and it will be several years before existing plants have the means of increasing the rate of production.
Some pharmaceutical companies have stated the pinch on drug supplies can be attributed to shortages of raw materials produced outside of the country and government regulations that cause delays in shipments.
