Quebec is experiencing a shortage of commonly used painkillers to the point that pharmacies are rationed on the quantity they can order of these non-prescription drugs used to treat fever and pain.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
“Supply issues with acetaminophen and ibuprofen (known respectively by the trade names of Tylenol and Advil) in liquid formats are currently observed for several suppliers of community pharmacies and health establishments,” confirmed the Ministry of Health. Health and Social Services (MSSS), Thursday.
According to the MSSS, this problem particularly affects these two types of analgesics in liquid format, that is, the form used to treat children and people who have difficulty swallowing.
But the shortage would also affect any adult products aimed at treating cold or flu symptoms, the company said. The Press the general manager of the Quebec Association of Pharmacy Distributors (AQDP), Hugues Mousseau.
A strong demand
The demand for these drugs this summer across the province would have been 150 to 200% higher than normal at this time of year, according to figures from the AQDP, a situation largely due to the seventh wave. of COVID-19, as the MSSS also points out.
“Significant and more sudden demand in recent months attributable to the recent waves of COVID-19 seems to have created pressure on suppliers which is reflected in problems in the continuity of supply”, specifies the spokesperson for the MSSS, Marjorie Larouche.
Faced with this strong demand, producers would not have been able to increase their production sufficiently, confirms Hugues Mousseau. Note that this is not a situation unique to Quebec. It is observed everywhere in Canada.
“That’s what made us, [les grossistes], we had to draw on our reserves, explains Hugues Mousseau. This led to the current shortage situation. “If these products continue to be delivered on a continuous basis, they are however in insufficient quantity, he adds.
Rationed pharmacies
“Filters” have therefore been established to allow all pharmacies in the province to order a certain quantity of medication each day, indicates Hugues Mousseau.
“It seems important to remind the population to purchase these products based on real immediate health needs and to avoid making superfluous purchases in order to avoid accentuating availability problems” , specifies the MSSS.
One of the solutions considered is to store painkillers for common use behind the counter of pharmacists to limit access, as was done during the shortage of formula milk earlier this summer, says Hugues Mousseau.
For the moment, we are mainly trying to work with the manufacturers. All scenarios are being studied at the moment to see how we can successfully meet the strong demand and replenish inventory levels in pharmacies and wholesalers.
Hugues Mousseau, General Manager of the Quebec Association of Pharmacy Distributors
This shortage could continue for “several weeks”, calculates Hugues Boisseau, that is to say beyond the start of the school year.
On the side of the Quebec Association of Proprietary Pharmacists, customers are invited to contact their pharmacist if the analgesic they are looking for is not available on the shelves in the case of children’s drugs, which are rarer.
” [Le pharmacien] may make dose adjustments. If a product is available for [enfants de] 24 months and a child is older, it is possible to make adjustments,” said spokesperson Marilie Beaulieu-Gravel.
Hospitals running out of painkillers
Two pediatric hospitals in Ontario said earlier this week they are dealing with shortages of commonly used painkillers.
Management at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa said they are taking steps to maintain supplies of liquid Tylenol and Advil for hospitalized patients and help find solutions for children being discharged.
A Toronto Hospital spokeswoman clarified that while some retailers may have these nonprescription drugs in stock, other pharmacies may only have large bottles that can only be dispensed by a pharmacist.
For the moment, the main pediatric hospitals in Montreal do not seem to be affected by this shortage.
The Montreal Children’s Hospital says it has enough acetaminophen and ibuprofen at this time. Plans are also in place if such a situation were to arise, said a spokesperson for the establishment, Christine Bouthillier.
The CHU Sainte-Justine also indicates that it does not have “difficulty in obtaining commonly used analgesics”. “Although the hospital has a sufficient quantity of these solutions for patients, the situation is being closely monitored,” it says.
With The Canadian Press