(OTTAWA) Shortages of acetaminophen and ibuprofen drugs for children should ease soon, says Health Canada’s senior medical adviser, Dr.D Supriya Sharma, who points out that the manufacturers of these painkillers have considerably increased their production in order to meet the demand in the country.
Posted at 12:34 p.m.
The DD Sharma said the shortage was caused by higher than normal demand during the summer, as manufacturers produce the drugs in limited quantities.
“Manufacturers are now producing double or even triple their usual quantity for Canada. We are also exploring other options, whether there are other sources, other countries that would have products available. The shortage is quite widespread, but we are looking into this option, ”said the senior medical adviser at a press conference.
The DD Sharma noted that this shortage was compounded by the effect of panic among some parents who decided to buy more than needed.
“During the pandemic, we have seen shortages of all kinds of things, including toilet paper. People buy in a bit of a panic and I understand. They want to have enough medicine to be able to treat their children, ”she said, urging people to exercise restraint.
“Manufacturers have increased their production. So we expect to receive more of these drugs very soon. […] I completely understand the anguish one can have or the anxiety one can feel having a child who suffers from fever and cries in the middle of the night, but the products are coming”.
Earlier this morning, Health Canada issued a press release stating that every effort is being made to resolve this situation.
“We share the concerns of parents and caregivers about the inability to find acetaminophen and ibuprofen products for infants and children, and we understand the concerns associated with this. Since the shortage began, we have been working to put measures in place to ensure that parents and caregivers have what they need to care for children,” said Health Canada.
It is specified that the Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, spoke directly with certain manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, Haleon and PharmaScience, “to reaffirm the urgency of a collaboration aimed at finding immediate solutions to this shortage so that parents and caregivers have access to the medicines they need to care for their children”
“The supply is increasing, but we still expect intermittent stockouts of these products at retail outlets. We are working to get these medicines to everyone who needs them, and we are working especially hard to replenish stocks in children’s hospitals.”