Drug Supply: Improving access to drugs and other health products in Canada

Overview: • Canada’s drug supply is fragile and the reality of prolonged and intermittent shortages and discontinuations of drugs, vaccines, and other treatments is a challenge both to individual patient care and outcomes and to health care system efficiency and effectiveness. [...] Improved Communications and Transparency: • We encourage the federal government, and all jurisdictions and supply chain stakeholders, to strengthen efforts to communicate on all aspects of drug supply, including current and potential drug shortages, and measures being undertaken to address broad supply issues and individual shortages proactively and transparently. [...] 1 www.bestmedicinescoalition.org • More open, transparent, and proactive approaches to communication are critical to patient communities, including in alleviating some of the stress and anxiety associated with not knowing whether a needed medication is in short supply and how and when the situation might be resolved. [...] • Improved data collection and information systems are integral to enable timely identification and greater understanding of the nature and extent of anticipated and current supply issues. [...] The BMC seeks timely access to a comprehensive range of medically necessary, safe, and effective drugs and related treatments, informed by patient-driven evidence and values, and delivered equitably and affordably to all patients in Canada.