Imported kids’ pain medication will start hitting shelves next week: Health Canada

Manufacturers of some children's pain medication in Canada have increased production by 30 per cent, but demand continues to outstrip supply.

Imported children’s pain and fever products will begin to appear on Canadian shelves next week, Health Canada confirmed on Friday.

The development comes as Canadian families have been grappling with a shortage of children’s pain medication, with unprecedented demand for children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen emptying shelves across the country, according to Health Canada.

Manufacturers of these drugs in Canada have said they have increased production by 30 per cent, but demand continues to outstrip supply.

“We’ve now received and approved three proposals to import foreign product and supply has started to enter the country,” confirmed Health Canada’s senior medical advisor, Dr. Supriya Sharma.

“After next week, more than one million bottles of product will have entered Canada to supply hospitals, community pharmacies and retailers, and medications will start appearing on store shelves starting early next week.”

The announcement comes as Canada grapples with three separate surges in viruses.

Cases of COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and an early onset of the flu season have posed a significant challenge for children’s hospitals across Canada, which have been swamped with children suffering from respiratory illnesses.

In order to stave off the worst impacts of the children’s pain medication shortage, Health Canada has been working secure foreign supplies.