The Coalition asking for a review of the drug supply system

 News release
For immediate distribution
Shortage of Cancer Drugs
The Coalition asking for a review of the drug supply
system
Montreal, June 5, 2014 – In order to avoid new drug shortages, Coalition Priorité Cancer au
Québec is asking the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux as well as Health Canada to
review the current drug supply system.
To deal with the shortage of Paclitaxel, an essential lung, breast and ovarian cancer drug
produced by Biolyse Pharma, whose supply was interrupted following production anomalies
observed by Health Canada, several Quebec health care establishments were forced to turn to
the only other Canadian producer (Hospira) able to provide a similar drug. Unfortunately, this
manufacturer elected to take shameful advantage of the shortage by demanding an exorbitant
price – nearly 100 times the initial price. Coalition president Nathalie Rodrigue, T.M., is of the
opinion that "this jeopardizes the health of patients and puts a strain on the drug budgets of
establishments."
According to Coalition Priorité Cancer au Québec, granting long-term exclusivity to the single
lowest bidder following a call for tenders to supply drugs, tends to generate adverse effects.
Because there are more and more drug supply shortages, especially among generic drug
manufacturers, the Coalition, like the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec, is requesting "the
adoption of a federal law that would oblige manufacturers to disclose problems in advance so
that establishments would have time to find alternatives."
Furthermore, the Coalition is asking Minister of Health and Social Services Gaétan Barrette, to
initiate an urgent review of drug supply policies and procedures in order to avoid a repeat of
this situation.
About the Coalition
Coalition Priorité Cancer au Québec was founded in 2001 to protect, support and give a
strong voice to people affected by cancer (patients, survivors, informal caregivers, their
families and their loved ones, as well as cancer-related community organizations and
health professionals) and to help organize the fight against cancer. Because of the
contribution of these organizations and members, the Coalition’s membership represents
close to 1.5 million people.
Alliance of the Cultural Communities for Equality in Health and Social Services (ACCESSS), Association des radiooncologues du Québec (AROQ), Association du cancer de l'Est du Québec (ACEQ), Association des
laryngectomisés de Montréal Inc, Care-Ring-Voice Network, Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN), Cancer
1 testiculaire Canada, Can Support Cedars, Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC), Association québécoise
des registraires en oncologie (AQRO), Association des retraitées et retraités de l’éducation et des autres services
publics du Québec (AREQ), Centre d'action bénévole de Bellechasse - Lévis - Lotbinière (Espoir Cancer), Chaire
Environnement-Cancer Guzzo de l'Université de Montréal, Chaire de recherche et de traitement du cancer de
l’UQAM, Conseil pour la protection des malades (CPM), Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada, Quebec Clinical
Research Organization in Cancer (Q-CROC), Fédération des comités des usagers et de résidents du Québec
(FCURQ), Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), Fédération de la physiothérapie en pratique
privée du Québec, Fondation Rêvez la vie, Foundation of Stars, Hope & Cope / L’espoir, c’est la vie, HPV Awareness
Corporation, Institut de l'anémie - Recherche et éducation (IARE), La Maison Aube-Lumière, Le Regroupement
québécois des maladies orphelines; Lymphoma Canada, Lymphedema Association of Quebec, Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society of Canada, Mains de l’espoir de Charlevoix, Myeloma Canada, Nova Montréal, Maison Sercan,
Ordre des technologues en imagerie médicale, en radio-oncologie et en électrophysiologie médicale du Québec
(OTIMROEPMQ), Ordre professionnel des technologistes médicaux du Québec (OPTMQ), Organisation québécoise
pour les personnes atteintes de cancer (OQPAC), Organisme gaspésien pour les personnes atteintes de cancer
(OGPAC), Ovaire espoir, Ovarian Cancer Canada (OCC), Palliative Home-care Society of Greater Montreal,
ProCure-The Force Against Prostate Cancer, Professionnals Networking for Caregivers, Quebec Clinical Research
Organization in Cancer, Quebec Lung Association (QLA), Regroupement provincial des comités des usagers
(RPCU), Regroupement des aidants naturels du Québec; Regroupement des Aidants Naturels du Comté de
l'Assomption (RANCA), Réseau des femmes en environnement, Réseau FADOQ, Save Your Skin Foundation, The
Alliance of the Cultural Communities for Equality in Health and Social Services (ACCÉSSS), The Chronic
Myelogenous Leukemia Society of Canada; The Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada; Thyroid Cancer Canada
du Canada.
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Source : Coalition Priorité Cancer au Québec
Information : Sylvie Piché, conseillère en communication
514 868-2009 p. 225
[email protected]
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