More children's medication arrives in Canada, unclear how much is coming to B.C., and when
Canada's supply of children's cold and flu medication increased by more than 2 million units this week, but it's not known when supplies will arrive in B.C., or how many are on the way to the province.
Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced on Friday that one million bottles arrived this week through foreign imports and about 1.1 million units have been produced domestically so far in November.
In addition, another 500,000 units of children's medication will arrive in Canada over the next three weeks through foreign imports.
“I am seeing a lot of friends and colleagues and pharmacists around the city are starting to receive supply,” said Ottawa pharmacist Dr. Sheli Dattani, vice president of pharmacy affairs for the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada.
The same can’t be said for B.C.
Jamie Wigston, president of the BC Pharmacy Association, said he hadn’t heard of any shipments arriving.
“I don't know anything about the specific quantities (or) the dates it's coming, anything more than you at the moment,” Wigston told CTV News Saturday.
Even the B.C. Ministry of Health couldn’t say. A statement to CTV News said, in part: “The exact allocation quantity for B.C. is still being determined."
The lack of supply comes as the country sees a surge in the number of sick children. B.C.'s Surrey Memorial Hospital is seeing quadruple as many patients as their emergency department was designed for, and 100 more kids per day than last year – making it one of the busiest pediatric units in the country.
Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh, president of Doctors of B.C., said while there’s no direct correlation between a lack of medication and increased ER visits, it’s another added strain.
“The lack of access to medications, especially pain relievers, to help our infants and pediatric population is definitely stressing and can cause increased anxiety in parents,” Dosanjh said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.