Preventing Drug Shortages: Identifying Risks and Strategies to Address Manufacturing-Related Drug Shortages in Canada

Globally, manufacturing issues are the most commonly cited cause of drug shortages. Acknowledging this reality the MSSC, in collaboration with drug manufacturers, has developed Preventing Drug Shortages: Identifying Risks and Strategies to Address Manufacturing-Related Drug Shortages in Canada. This report seeks to identify, analyze, and propose strategies to reduce and prevent the manufacturing-related causes of drug shortages in Canada. . The document was updated in 2017 to reflect the Government of Canada’s introduction of the Regulations on Mandatory Drug Shortage and Discontinuation Reporting.　

Health Canada and the MSSC are committed to working with drug manufacturers to implement the recommendations outlined in this report into their current business architecture, with the goal of preventing drug shortages from happening in the first place.