Health Canada flags inflated prices of kid’s pain medicine on Amazon amid shortage

Health Canada said it was made aware that pediatric pain medications were being sold at inflated prices on Amazon as shortages persist across the country.

Health Canada says it’s aware children’s pain medications were being listed for sale on Amazon at inflated prices and has raised the issue with the retailer as Canadian parents struggle to find products like Advil and Tylenol products amid a nationwide shortage.

“The Department was made aware that children’s pain medications were being sold online at inflated prices on Amazon.ca,” Andrea Richer, a Health Canada spokesperson, told Global News in an emailed statement Monday evening, adding that the regulator “took immediate action by informing Amazon of this issue.”

“Amazon confirmed that they can take action against a seller should they become aware of inflated prices that could harm customer trust,” she said.

Health Canada does not have jurisdiction over the product pricing, but “plays an active role in ensuring that Canadians have access to safe and effective drugs and health products,” Richer said.

Amazon was actively monitoring for such violations and will investigate any product listing that Health Canada may bring to its attention, she added.

Over the past few days, posts have surfaced on social media showing packs of children’s pain medication products on sale for close to $300. Those product listings appear to have since been removed.

An Amazon spokesperson told Global News sellers set their own product prices on its platform, but there are policies in place to “help ensure sellers are pricing their products competitively.”