Our Medicines
A Proactive Response – Drug Shortages
Summit (2024) and the Comprehensive Report
In response to the increasing level of drug shortages CGPA and the Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution Management (CAPDM) hosted an industry wide Drug Shortages Summit Series (2024). A wide range of key pharmaceutical supply chain and healthcare system stakeholders were invited to share perspectives and develop priority actions to address drug shortages and identify priority areas for action to strengthen Canada’s drug supply.
A Path Forward: Collaborative Solutions to Strengthen Canada’s Drug Supply outlines the significant challenges associated with drug shortages, highlighting that the problem is multifaceted, with many underlying causes only recently being acknowledged. This report also offers actionable recommendations to help remedy these issues and reinforces the necessity of uniting all key stakeholders – to foster a more resilient and responsive supply chain.
When Drug Shortages Occur
Our industry’s mandate is to supply high-quality medicines, make patient care affordable and help sustain Canada’s healthcare system. Cost-saving generic medicines are used to fill more than 70% of all the prescriptions dispensed each year in Canada. The complexity of the global supply chain impacts both the brand-name and generic pharmaceutical industries. The most common causes for drug shortages can be the quality and availability of active ingredients, or manufacturing issues, and regulatory issues.
CGPA and its member companies work with key stakeholders to mitigate disruptions in the supply and the impact on patients. Our member companies are also working with healthcare professionals and governments to identify the essential medicines that Canada needs to stockpile.