News Releases

Statement from the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) Regarding Shortages of Prescription Medicines

Toronto, August 17, 2010 – The following is a statement by Jim Keon, President of the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA), regarding media reports of prescription drug shortages in Canada:

"The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) is aware of media reports regarding prescription drug shortages in Canada.

Disruptions in the supply chain for generic and brand-name prescription pharmaceutical products can occur and may be caused by a number of issues, including:

• World-wide shortages of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) required to produce the products
  
• Changes to regulatory standards and requirements
  
• Production issues/problems for one or more manufacturers
  
• Changes in production equipment/processes

Given the products named and the fact that shortages appear to be affecting the supply of both brand-name and generic prescription medicines, the cause of the recently reported shortages is not yet clear.

Any current shortages of generic prescription medicines are not the result of recent drug program reforms in Ontario or other provinces.

For their part, generic pharmaceutical manufacturers are taking steps to address the shortages and expect that the situation will improve significantly over the coming weeks and months."

For more information, please contact:

Jeff Connell
Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA)
Tel: (416) 223-2333
Mobile: (647) 274-3379
Email: jeff@canadiangenerics.ca

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	Statement from the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) Regarding Shortages of Prescription Medicines
	Statement from the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) Regarding Shortages of Prescription Medicines