A cargo of youngsters’s painkillers meant for hospitals in Alberta has arrived, however the province continues to be awaiting the arrival of one other cargo of youngsters’s medicines to be distributed to pharmacies.
The Alberta authorities mentioned Wednesday that its first batch of ordered child liquid acetaminophen had arrived at Edmonton International Airport. Medicines might be instantly distributed to hospitals.
A provincial press launch mentioned the 250,000 bottles will increase provides to hospitals within the province, guaranteeing that entry to medicines shouldn’t be delayed.
“I am so pleased that we were able to provide additional pediatric medicines for our hospitals,” Prime Minister Daniel Smith mentioned in a press release.
“But we cannot and will not stop at this first batch. We need approval for the rest of the drugs so that parents can use them at home.”
In December, Smith introduced that the province was ordering a complete of 5 million bottles of pediatric medication from Atabay Pharmaceuticals in Turkey.
The announcement got here as hospitals had been overwhelmed by a surge in a number of respiratory diseases and pharmacies throughout the province reported shortages of chilly and flu medicines.
The authorities says that when an extra 4.75 million bottles with child-resistant caps arrive, they are going to be distributed to pharmacies on the market to the general public at common retail costs.
To be authorised by Health Canada, the producer needed to submit a proposal to Health Canada. Health Canada has reviewed the proposal and requested further info and quite a few modifications to adjust to Canada’s regulatory necessities, the province mentioned.
One of those modifications was the necessity to add child-resistant caps to bottles for retail use.
The ultimate requirement for child-resistant caps has been met and the producer has supplied all the data requested by Health Canada, the province mentioned.
The Alberta authorities is at present awaiting approval from Health Canada for the remaining 4.75 million bottles for retail sale throughout the province.
“We are going through an exceptionally difficult winter, made even more stressful for parents by the lack of essential medicines,” Smith mentioned.
“Children and families are waiting for these drugs and we need Health Canada to approve them without further delay.”
The value of Alberta’s drug purchases has not been disclosed.
In a press release Wednesday, the province mentioned it paid a “small surcharge” on the anticipated retail worth to safe provides.
When the medication attain pharmacies, they are going to be offered “at prices corresponding to the normal retail price,” the federal government mentioned.
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