Two national pharmacy associations have released a new report targeting the complex issue of drug shortages and what can be done to address the issue.
It’s called A Path Forward: Collaborative Solutions to Strengthen Canada’s Drug Supply.
Angelique Berg, CEO of the Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution Management says drug shortages have been “increasing in volume and increasing in profile.”
What they have found, according to Berg, is that those involved in the supply chain are working in silos and didn’t realize that changes in one area would have an impact on others.
Photo via ParlVu
Berg says the biggest factor in drug shortages is economics.
She says there is a controlled market in Canada where they all seek to have the lowest prices, but with operational expenses continuing to rise, they are operating on “extremely thin margins.”
Another variable, Berg explains, is how lean the supply chain has become.
She says they have “squeezed all the fat out” to the point where they struggle to keep up if there is a disruption is supply.
