Canada's ongoing painkiller shortage is a pressing issue that shows no signs of abating. This crisis, affecting prescription medications, is expected to persist into the new year, causing concern among healthcare professionals and patients alike.
The shortage primarily involves medications containing oxycodone, a potent opioid, and acetaminophen. While the supply of acetaminophen with codeine, including Tylenol 3, has improved since the summer disruption, the situation remains critical for oxycodone-based drugs.
Health Canada issued a notice in July, alerting the public to the shortage of acetaminophen with oxycodone, which includes the brand name Percocet. This shortage was initially attributed to manufacturing disruptions and was expected to last until early fall. However, the problem has persisted, affecting patients with acute injuries and chronic pain conditions.
Sadaf Faisal, senior director of professional affairs at the Canadian Pharmacists Association, confirms that the supply of codeine-containing medications, such as Tylenol 3, has returned to normal levels. However, the situation remains challenging for Tylenol 2 and 4, which are less commonly prescribed.
The shortage of acetaminophen with oxycodone is ongoing, and Faisal reports that the manufacturer anticipates some supply in December, albeit with constraints due to backorders. She expresses hope that the situation will improve by the new year.
Faisal emphasizes that there are alternative pain medications with similar ingredients that healthcare providers can prescribe. However, Mina Tadrous, an associate professor at the University of Toronto's pharmacy faculty, highlights the challenges of switching patients' painkillers. This process requires significant time and resources, placing additional strain on an already overburdened healthcare system.
Tadrous underscores the importance of early communication between pharmacists and healthcare teams to avoid running out of medications. He emphasizes that no one wants to be caught in a situation where there are no alternatives left.
According to the Canadian Pharmacists Association, there are typically between 1,500 and 2,000 active drug shortages in the country at any given time. Tadrous explains that the repercussions of these shortages are felt on a larger scale when they affect commonly used medications.
"When a shortage occurs or there's a break in the supply chain, it's like a slow-moving train. It takes time to unfold and then it hits," Tadrous says. "The problem is that once the supply is depleted, it also takes months to replenish it."
This ongoing crisis highlights the vulnerability of our healthcare system and the need for better supply chain management to ensure patients have access to the medications they need.
