Since late 2010, the public has slowly become aware of a shortage of prescription drugs. This is a global problem, and Canada is affected because almost all of our drugs are made in other countries. Most–if not all–the missing drugs are generics, older, and less expensive because their patents have expired.
The causes are poorly understood. The solutions are elusive.
On this website we plan to build a resource on Canadian drug shortages by posting patient stories about the impact of hard-to-find or missing medicine, media reports on the issue, and government and industry efforts to track the problem and its possible causes and consequences. We will also link policy and political statements as they emerge, as well as position statements and submissions by organizations and individuals. We have added a new page to track lobbying activities of the pharmaceutical industry.
Please email Jacalyn Duffin at duffin.jacalyn1@gmail.com if you have a story to tell about drug shortages, a media report or statement that we should link, or any other information to contribute to www.canadadrugshortage.com.
Jacalyn Duffin is a hematologist and historian who works clinically in cancer care and and teaches students of medicine, history and philosophy at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada where she holds the Hannah Chair of the History of Medicine.
last update 19 May 2012