Drug shortages have become increasingly common in Canada. Given that drug shortages are a complex health system issue, they can present significant dilemmas for pharmacy professionals and prescribers who are trying to meet the needs of their patients.
This page is intended to provide pharmacy professionals with resources and best practices to navigate drug shortages.
Role of Pharmacy Professionals
Pharmacy professionals play a critical role in managing drug shortages that can have a significant impact on patient care, including:
- Ensuring an effective procurement process that aligns with the Designated Manager – Medication Procurement and Inventory Management Policy. Proactive strategies could include training staff to identify potential shortages early and collaborating closely with colleagues to ensure effective supply chain management.
- Keeping prescribers informed and working together to identify suitable alternatives. This may involve adjusting dosages or quantities dispensed to maximize access.
- Collaborating with other community pharmacies to ensure high risk patients and patients in urgent need are identified and triaged appropriately.
- Transferring prescriptions when necessary, and coordinating therapy changes in partnership with prescribers.
- Utilizing a pharmacist’s full scope of practice to adapt prescriptions as needed.
When managing drug shortages and developing possible solutions, including interventions and recommendations, pharmacists are relied upon to practice within limits of their knowledge and skills, drawing on their professional judgment, while also consulting evidence-based resources. As well, to support continuity of care, effective communication and documentation is of utmost importance to understand one’s rationale, and to demonstrate accountability and responsibility for decisions involved in the patient’s care.
Note: Health Canada has issued a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) subsection 56(1) class exemption to permit pharmacists to adapt and/or renew prescriptions for controlled substances for the purposes of facilitating continuation of treatment. The quantity prescribed/dispensed cannot exceed the amount originally authorized. Pharmacy interns are not named in this exemption.