Neighbourhood Pharmacies is pleased to see many of our recommendations reflected in What we heard: Improving access to drugs and other health products in Canada, the latest report from Health Canada's Drug Shortages task force.
Through our involvement on the Health Products Supply Chain Advisory Committee, the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee on Drug Shortages and our submission to the task force in August 2023, Neighbourhood Pharmacies has continued to ensure that the perspective of the pharmacy sector is front and center as discussions on mitigating and preventing drug shortages move forward.
Of note, the report suggests consideration be given to financial reimbursement for healthcare providers for the time they spend managing shortages and the need for pharmacists’ to be able to independently prescribe therapeutic alternatives, including controlled substances, during shortages. Another key theme throughout the report is the need for a 'whole-of-government' approach to policy development.
To read more about community pharmacy involvement in the prevention of drug shortages, make sure to also check out the cover story, 'Last Line of Defence', in the Fall 2023 issue of the Neighbourhood Pharmacies Gazette.