there is confusion about health canada The Alberta government has fully approved an “extraordinary import” of a purchased pediatric drug.
At the end of 2022, the province announced that it had found a manufacturer to import five million bottles of Liquid Children acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
In December, 250,000 bottles of acetaminophen were approved for use in hospitals.
The remaining 4.75 million bottles are split between acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Acetaminophen — which accounts for most of the children’s medicine purchased by Alberta — has been approved for import until January 26.
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In a statement to Global News, Health Canada confirmed the approval.
“On January 26, 2023, after a thorough review and discussion with the Company and the Government of Alberta, Health Canada approved the extraordinary importation of Turkey-authorized pediatric acetaminophen with child-resistant packaging for over-the-counter distribution and sale in community pharmacies approved. in Alberta,” it said in a statement.
“This decision is reflected in the online list of products eligible for import.”
“Health Canada review of proposal for Turkey-authorized pediatric ibuprofen continues.”
The brand name of children’s acetaminophen purchased from Turkey is Parol (150mL), which comes in liquid form and is intended for children ages two to 11.
“The information posted today by Health Canada is a big step toward our goal of getting these drugs into the hands of families who have been waiting for them,” Steve Bueck, press secretary to Health Minister Jason Copping, said in a written statement. “
He said Alberta Health is “hopeful” to “get final approval very soon for the remaining 4.75 million bottles of pediatric pain and fever medicine that we have purchased.”
“We would like to confirm directly with Health Canada that they have approved the importation of the remaining acetaminophen products so that we can finalize plans to bring them to Canada for parents,” Buick told Global News.
It’s unclear when the drugs will start appearing on store shelves.
“Assuming we get confirmation, we can have them here very soon, potentially within a couple of weeks,” Buick said.
“We will also continue to work to obtain Health Canada’s approval on the remaining ibuprofen products.”
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When Health Canada was notified of Buick’s comments, it issued a further statement to Global News.
“Health Canada has approved the importation of this product. Before it is imported, released and distributed for sale, risk communication and product labeling must be finalized by the importer,” a spokeswoman for the agency said. must be given.
Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, described the process as confusing.
“Either it’s a massive miscommunication that gets amplified repeatedly because they’re not listening or reading — that’s one possibility — the second I think, maybe there’s a problem with the shipment,” he said.
David Shepherd, the opposition NDP health critic, said the drugs are arriving too late to make a difference.
“The fact that the government’s procurement of the drug will ultimately happen when the crisis has passed and it is no longer needed shows how inept the UCP is at managing health care,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, across Canada, pharmacists and families are struggling with continuing shortages of fever and pain medicine.
However, they say the solution isn’t just more pediatric acetaminophen — drugs are needed for adults, too.
“It’s not just coughs and colds — not the kids’ problem — we can’t get many things that should be in the supply chain,” said Bob McQueen, a pharmacist at a Medicine Shoppe location in Edmonton.
McQueen said his pharmacy carries a variety of medications for both children and adults, including children’s ibuprofen, cough and cold medicines, children’s antibiotics (particularly penicillin), adult pain relievers such as Tylenol #3 and codeine, adult acetaminophen, child’s Gravol facing shortage of products. Be sure to have anti-nausea medication, and meal replacement products.
“Please give us cough and cold medicines.”
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