Rising demand and supply chain constraints are fueling the shortage of cold and flu drugs in Canada, says a major Ontario pharmacy organization.
Jen Belcher, vice president of strategic initiatives and relationships with members of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, says there are a variety of factors at play due to increased demand. He says more people are developing respiratory tract infections and supply chain disruptions are affecting different stages of cold medicine production.
“If you go to pharmacies in Ontario and other provinces, you’re likely to see a number of different gaps on our shelf,” Belcher told CTV’s Your Morning Monday.
“Cough and cold medications aren’t the only medications we’ve been struggling with, but definitely over the last few weeks we’ve seen it get worse and we’re definitely trying to turn around to find other products that can help people. manage your symptoms with “.
Relaxation of public health restrictions is also a factor, Belcher told CTV News London last week, with some viruses becoming more frequent as COVID-19 measures began to ease.
Some painkillers for children are also pending order, Belcher said Monday.
Because children’s medication is usually based on weight, he says some adult medications may not be suitable for children.
For now, he advises citizens to talk to their pharmacist or someone who knows their medical history about what they can do to relieve their cold symptoms.
“(The medication) could come back in the fall when we go back to the usual cold and flu season, but it’s very difficult to predict at this point, and unfortunately I couldn’t say it with any degree of confidence,” Belcher said.
Watch the full interview with Jen Belcher at the top of the article.
With files from CTV News London