Help is on the way to easing a Canada-wide shortage of children’s acetaminophen products.
Health Canada reported Monday that it had secured a supply of children’s cold medication from abroad, to be sold in pharmacies and by other retailers. The health agency had earlier announced an increased supply of acetaminophen and ibuprofen for hospitals.
“Each proposal received from a company to import a foreign authorized product undergoes careful review by Health Canada to confirm that the product was manufactured according to the same high-quality standards the people of Canada expect,” read a release from Health Canada, which added that the products were deemed effective and safe.
Retailers will soon see an increased supply of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Dosing instructions and ingredients will be displayed in both English and French.
The importation of the medication came after store shelves became emptier due to the shortage, plus an increase in respiratory illnesses that have sent people to hospital. Parents have been scrambling for medication, with some making trips to the U.S. to find it.
“We continue to work very closely with the manufacturers and distributors of infant and children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen products, provinces and territories, children’s hospitals, the Canadian Pediatric Society, the Canadian Pharmacists Association and the Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada to facilitate information-sharing along the manufacturing and distribution supply chain and to identify and implement additional measures to alleviate this shortage,” read the statement from Health Canada.
The health agency has reminded parents that if they can’t find medication, they should check with their healthcare provider for proper alternatives.
Parents should also not give adult medications to those aged 12 and under without consulting a physician or pharmacist.
Complete information about the ongoing medication shortage can be found on Health Canada’s official website.
