Conservatives adopt NDP plan on drug shortages

After years of defending the broken system of voluntary reporting, the Conservatives have finally adopted the NDP proposal to require mandatory reporting of drug shortages. The new plan is a victory for doctors and patients, who have been complaining for years that the voluntary system was not working.

“It is essential for doctors and patients to know in advance when drug shortages are looming, so that they can make informed decisions,” said Murray Rankin (Victoria), NDP critic for Health. “Otherwise, lives are put at risk. Yet while other countries have had mandatory reporting for years, the Conservatives have failed to act.”

Last February, the Conservatives defeated a Private Member’s bill tabled by the NDP which would have required mandatory disclosure of drug shortages, because they argued that the voluntary approach was successful. The Conservatives also failed to abide by an NDP motion adopted unanimously by the House of Commons in 2012 calling on the government to create a national strategy to respond to drug shortages.

“Canadians deserve better from their federal government,” added Djaouida Sellah (Saint-Bruno – Saint-Hubert). “The Conservatives are finally adopting my bill. They should also abide by the unanimous NDP motion and create a national strategy to deal with drug shortages.”