Drug shortage has B.C. officials scrambling
Quebec manufacturer Sandoz hit by U.S. regulatory criticism, causing slowdown
Health officials in B.C. are working to deal with a shortage of drugs — including the pain killer morphine — that has resulted from problems at a Quebec pharmaceutical company.
Sandoz Canada has been forced to reduce production at its site in Boucherville after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration pointed to safety and reliability issues at the facility.
An agency of the B.C. Health Ministry called Health Shared Services BC says it's working with regional health authorities to deal with the problem.
The agency says that includes monitoring all current supplies of Sandoz products, co-ordinating their distribution, finding alternative products and working on the issue with the B.C. Medical Association, pharmacists and Health Canada.
Most of the products are injectable drugs like morphine used in hospitals, as well as a few topical eye products, and hospital patients will be most affected.
The government says patients should not be concerned but if they have any questions, they should call their doctor.