MONTREAL - A drug shortage expected to hit Quebec hospitals in the coming months has experts pleading for a more proactive approach to planning.
The upcoming penury is proof that Quebec needs to adopt a system to avoid having to improvise with such emergencies, according to Quebec Order of Pharmacists President Diane Lamarre.
The shortage is anticipated because Sandoz, a maker of generic drugs in Boucherville on Montreal's South Shore, must stop production for a few months.
The closure is a result of inspections by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Public Health Agency which singled out questionable production practices at the plant last November.
Sandoz manufactures primarily injectable drugs, including pain relievers used in operating rooms.
For some products, the company is the sole supplier of Quebec hospitals.
Lamarre added that the authorities shall work together to manage the crisis and ensure adequate supply.
These drugs could be replaced by other medications but the authorities fear that would lead to further problems, according to Lamarre.
