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Advocacy in Action: September 10

September 10, 2024

What's happened

August 28, University of Toronto Faculty of Pharmacy Leadership Intensive

CSHP CPO Rita Dhami attended the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Leadership Intensive at University of Toronto, engaging with third year pharmacy students. Throughout this day of learning and networking, she contributed to a panel discussion on advocacy in healthcare-systems pharmacy, leadership development, and the value of building a professional network.

What's happening

September 10, Interactive Dialogue - Raising Awareness of RSV as part of your vaccine preventable respiratory diseases in Canada

CPO Rita Dhami will join the International Federation of Aging’s Interactive Dialogue as a panelist to raise awareness about RSV as a vaccine-preventable respiratory disease in Canada. She will bring her unique healthcare-systems pharmacy perspective to the discussion. She will focus on strategies to promote RSV vaccination as a vital preventive measure for protecting at-risk populations and public health. Additionally, she will advocate for its integration into broader disease prevention efforts alongside her fellow panelists.

October 1, Presentation on Pharmacovigilance

Professional Practice Specialist Angel Bhathal will deliver the opening presentation at an upcoming Health Canada Pharmacovigilance Training event.

Her presentation will establish the foundation for effective pharmacovigilance practices. She will emphasize the importance of identifying adverse drug events and reactions, ensuring compliance with local drug safety reporting requirements, and performing medication safety analyses.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

September 10, 2024

Advocacy in Action: September 10

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Advocacy in Action: August 27

August 27, 2024

What's happened

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages Meetings

Through participation at these meetings, CSHP has provided input on these acute drug shortages:

Discontinuation of Zovirax (acyclovir) Suspension
Tier Assignment Committee De-escalation: De-escalation of Injection

August 12, Patented Medicine Prices Review Board Webinar

CSHP CPO Rita Dhami attended CSHP’s first Patented Medicine Prices Review Board webinar. This presentation provided an overview of the proposed frameworks and guidelines the government is hoping to address in this second phase of consultations. All in attendance were invited to provide their feedback by September 11.

What's happening

August 28, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Leadership Intensive

CPO Rita Dhami will be in Toronto to take part in this one-day session of learning and networking with students. While there, she’ll take part in a panel discussion and presentation that will provide insight into her experiences with healthcare-systems pharmacy, leadership, and important lessons she has learned along the way.

September 10, Interactive dialogue Raising Awareness of RSV as part of your vaccine preventable respiratory diseases in Canada

CPO Rita Dhami will participate as a panelist in IFA’s Interactive Dialogue on raising awareness of RSV as a vaccine-preventable respiratory disease in Canada. She will share her insights on combating infectious diseases from a healthcare-systems pharmacy perspective, discussing strategies to promote RSV vaccination as a crucial preventive measure for protecting at-risk populations and public health, while also advocating for its inclusion in broader disease prevention strategies alongside her fellow panelists. Attend this discussion by registering here.

September 24, Mandatory Reporting of Serious ADRs by Hospitals - Introduction to Health Canada Requirements

The CSHP Professional Practice team will attend a webinar hosted by Zenith PV, experts in Canadian Pharmacovigilance. The session will cover Health Canada's Good Vigilance Practices, offering an overview of the historical context, key guidelines, and specific requirements for mandatory ADR reporting in hospitals. Additionally, participants will learn about the reporting criteria, timelines, and essential information for compliance. If you're interested in learning more about this topic, register for this event here.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

August 27, 2024

Advocacy in Action: August 27

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Advocacy in Action: July 30

July 30, 2024

What's happened

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages Meetings

Through participation at these meetings, CSHP has provided input on these acute drug shortages:

July 9 Discontinuation of Zovirax (acyclovir) Suspension
July 19 Tier Assignment Committee: Shortages of Pantoprazole Injection
July 23 Tier Assignment Committee De-escalation: De-escalation of Thiamine Injection

July 19, NAPRA Consultation on Modernization of Drug Schedules

After stakeholder discussion and thorough consideration, CSHP officially submitted its consultation on two of NAPRA’s potential models for non-prescription drug (NPD) scheduling and their respective terms of sale for inclusion in the updated program.

CSHP advocated for a model that organizes scheduling by ingredient while keeping a ‘prescription only’ category, highlighting that in institutional settings the variety of drugs and preparations necessitate pharmacist medication order reviews for patient safety.

July 24, Multilateral Meeting with Health Canada on Proposed regulation changes to health product shortages

CSHP CPO Rita Dhami joined this Health Canada meeting alongside CPhA, NAPRA, Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (NPAC), l’Association des bannières et chaînes de pharmacies du Québec (ABCPQ), and CMA to discuss proposed measures that the department will take to mitigate and prevent shortages of drugs and medical devices over the next four years as detailed in Building resilience: Health Canada’s plan to address health product shortages, 2024 to 2028.

During this meeting, Rita voiced CSHP’s support of these policy changes given their goal to improve transparency and timeliness of shortage reporting. Additionally, she highlighted opportunities to align the new regulations with other frameworks such as the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and Policy on Manufacturing and Compounding Drug Products in Canada.

What's happening

June – July, Health Canada Consultation on Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

CSHP is finishing the response to a Health Canada consultation on the proposed Controlled Substances Regulations and related amendments to other federal regulations, including the Cannabis Regulations, as published in the Canada Gazette, Part I. Outreach for input from Branches and members on this consultation is currently in progress.

July – Health Canada Consultation on Food and Drug Regulations and the Medical Devices Regulations

Relating to the Building resilience: Health Canada’s plan to address health product shortages, 2024 to 2028 report, CSHP is drafting a consultation response on the proposed amendments to Food and Drug Regulations as well as the Medical Devices Regulations. An initial step is gathering input from Branches and members with expertise in this area.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

July 30, 2024

Advocacy in Action: July 30

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Advocacy in Action: July 16

July 16, 2024

In this special edition of Advocacy in Action, learn more about the consultations that CSHP has been working on, with the help of the Board of Directors and members from across the Society!

July 19, NAPRA Consultation on Modernization of Drug Schedules

CSHP has now submitted our feedback on NAPRA’s future models for non-prescription drug (NPD) scheduling and their respective conditions of sale. We extend our gratitude to the members who offered their insight on this consultation.

June to July, Health Canada Consultation on Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

CSHP is preparing a response to a Health Canada consultation on the proposed Controlled Substances Regulations and related amendments to other federal regulations, including the Cannabis Regulations, as published in the Canada Gazette, Part I. Outreach for input from Branches and Members on this consultation is still in progress.

July, Health Canada Consultation on Food and Drug Regulations and the Medical Devices Regulations

In June, Health Canada released the following: Building resilience: Health Canada’s plan to address health product shortages, 2024 to 2028.

This publication stems from thorough stakeholder consultations that took place in 2023 and outlines proposed regulatory and non-regulatory actions the government can take to mitigate and prevent drug and medical device shortages over the next four years.

Consequently, amendments will be made to the Food and Drug Regulations and the Medical Devices Regulations. Health Canada has requested CSHP’s feedback on these proposed amendments. CSHP is drafting our response which includes seeking input from Branches and Members for their expertise on this topic before submission.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

July 16, 2024

Advocacy in Action: July 16

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Action on IV pantoprazole shortage

July 9, 2024

In this collaborative reference document, CSHP and the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology make specific recommendations on how to handle the current shortage of IV pantoprazole. This shortage, affecting the Canadian market due to backorders from the primary suppliers, is expected to persist until October 2024. In the interim, healthcare facilities are encouraged to implement conservation strategies, such as transitioning from IV to oral pantoprazole, restricting IV pantoprazole use, and considering intermittent dosing to manage the shortage effectively. This letter underscores the importance of these measures to ensure the prolonged availability of this essential medication.

CSHP has requested that Health Canada consider other IV options for approval, including making another IV alternative available in the Canadian landscape.

Read the joint letter

Read the recommendations

To catch up on other CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
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July 09, 2024

Action on IV pantoprazole shortage

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Advocacy in Action: July 2

July 2, 2024

What's happened

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages Meetings

Through participation at these meetings, CSHP is continuing to monitor these ongoing drug shortages

June 17 Tier Assignment Committee: Shortages of Pantoprazole Injection
June 19 Tier Assignment Committee: Shortages of Epinephrine Injection Prefilled Syringes
June 20 Tier Assignment Committee De-escalation: De-escalation of Potassium Chloride for injection
June 26: Discontinuation of Zovirax (acyclovir) Suspension

June 19, GS1 Canada Pharmacy Deployment Committee Meeting

CSHP has joined GS1 Canada’s Pharmacy Deployment Committee. This collaboration aims to promote global standards-based practices and peer-to-peer sharing within the pharmacy community, focusing on accurately identifying medications throughout the supply chain through automation and global standards adoption.

What's happening

June to July, NAPRA Consultation on Modernization of Drug Schedules

CSHP will be wrapping up a consultation on two of NAPRA’s potential models for non-prescription drug (NPD) scheduling and their respective terms of sale for inclusion in the updated program. Thank you to all members who have offered their insight on these topics.

June to July, Health Canada Consultation on Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

CSHP is drafting a response to a Health Canada consultation on the proposed Controlled Substances Regulations and related amendments to other federal regulations, including the Cannabis Regulations, as published in the Canada Gazette, Part I. Outreach for input from Branches and Members at-large on this consultation is currently in progress.

July, Health Canada Consultation on Food and Drug Regulations and the Medical Devices Regulations

Health Canada recently released Building resilience: Health Canada’s plan to address health product shortages, 2024 to 2028. This publication is a result of extensive public and stakeholder consultations in 2023 and outlines their proposed regulatory and non-regulatory actions they will be taking to mitigate and prevent shortages of drugs and medical devices over the next four years.

As a result, they will be making amendments to Food and Drug Regulations and the Medical Devices Regulations and have asked CSHP to consult on their proposed amendments. CSHP National is drafting a response and will seek input from Branches and Members on this consultation prior to submission.

What's worth repeating

June 12, Multilateral Meeting with Health Canada

CPO Rita Dhami participated in a multilateral meeting with Health Canada. While in attendance, she received updates from the various divisions of Health Canada including the Marketed Health Products Branch, the Pharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, the Health Product Compliance Directorate, and the Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Directorate as well as some policy updates.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

June 27, 2024

Advocacy in Action: July 2

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National Indigenous Peoples Day: Resources for Pharmacy Professionals

June 21, 2024

In recognition of National Indigenous History Month throughout June and in commemoration of National Indigenous Peoples Day today, we are excited to share a wealth of resources tailored for pharmacy professionals.

This initiative is presented in conjunction with the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC) and CSHP's National Indigenous Peoples Day presentation on Truth and Reconciliation in Hospital Pharmacy.

CSHP aims to provide everyone with essential tools and information to deepen their understanding of Indigenous health and empower them with the knowledge to actively combat anti-Indigenous racism in pharmacy and healthcare settings.

Resources

Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada website
IPPC recently launched their own website which is full of information about the work that the organization does, assorted opportunities for Indigenous pharmacy professionals and members, information on upcoming events, and more!

National Indigenous Peoples Day presentation on Truth and Reconciliation in Hospital Pharmacy
On June 21, Amy Lamb, Executive Director of IPPC, delivered a pre-recorded session discussing healthcare biases, culturally safe care, and Indigenous health research. The event was hosted live by CSHP Past President Sean Spina, and Kirsten Fox who are both founding members of the IPPC Board. Watch the presentation below!

Multilateral efforts for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (2023)
In observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC), CAPSI, CPhA, and CSHP pledged to address and prevent inequities faced by Indigenous patients. As a community we supported Indigenous led, culturally safe practices through a social media campaign based on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's health Calls to Action, urging recognition, funding, and goal setting. Click here to read these posts and learn more about how you can help fulfill these calls to action!

Movement Forward with Truth and Reconciliation within Hospital Pharmacy
As part of our 2023 Hospital News special section, Amber Ruben from Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada authored an article that provides crucial insight from an Indigenous pharmacy professional and provides ways that allies can help move pharmacy towards Truth and Reconciliation.

Resource spotlight: Indigenous History Month (2022)
This Resource Spotlight offers materials to aid pharmacy professionals in enhancing their cultural competency and clinical expertise regarding the unique health needs of Indigenous patients.

Standing Against Injustice and Working Towards Reconciliation in Health Care
As part of an executive commentary in CJHP, the 2021 CSHP Executive reasserted their commitment to addressing systemic racism in healthcare, particularly against Indigenous peoples, and outlined the steps members can take to create inclusive, equitable environments, including anti-racism training and advocacy for Indigenous cultural safety.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Resources (2021)
Emphasizing the importance of recognizing and reflecting on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation every September 30, this piece urges pharmacy professionals to reflect on colonialism's impact and healthcare inequities, and to engage with resources for ongoing reconciliation efforts.

Centering Indigenous voices in CSHP's advocacy work
This call to action from CSHP underscores its commitment to dismantling systemic injustice in healthcare, emphasizing the need to centre and amplify the voices and leadership of Indigenous members.

Indigenous Health and Reconciliation in Pharmacy
In 2019, Dr. Jaris Swidrovich led a comprehensive webinar exploring various Indigenous communities, detailing past and present government policies affecting Indigenous health, and discussing prevalent health challenges within these communities. The session also included practical examples of cultural safety and a summary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, with suggestions for how pharmacy professionals can respond to the TRC Calls to Action.

June 21, 2024

National Indigenous Peoples Day: Resources for Pharmacy Professionals

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Advocacy in Action: June 18

June 18, 2024

What's happened

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages Meetings

Through participation at these meetings, CSHP is continuing to monitor these ongoing drug shortages

June 5 Tier Assignment Committee: Shortages of Mepivacaine 2%
June 6 Tier Assignment Committee: De-escalation of Dipyridamole

June 4, Choosing Wisely Canada Annual Meeting of the Societies

CSHP participated in a multilateral meeting with Choosing Wisely Canada and other associations. The agenda covered discussions on the Choosing Wisely Climate Campaign and explored potential collaborations between the various organizations.

June 6, Transforming Primary Care in Canada Summit

CSHP CEO Jody Ciufo and CPO Rita Dhami travelled to Toronto to attend the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA)’s inaugural national summit alongside other pharmacy leaders, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and patient advocacy groups.

The Transforming Primary Care in Canada Summit aimed to reach a shared vision on the future roles of pharmacists and pharmacy teams in primary care, identify barriers and facilitators for integrating community pharmacies, and outline priority areas for actionable initiatives. This vision includes a system where pharmacy is recognized as a first stop in the primary care journey for all.

To learn more about the takeaways from this event, click here.

June 12, Multilateral Meeting with Health Canada

What's happening

May to June, NAPRA Consultation on Modernization of Drug Schedules

After taking part in an expert panel to modernize the NAPRA Drug Schedules, CSHP has been invited to consult on two potential models for non-prescription drug (NPD) scheduling and their respective terms of sale for inclusion in the updated program. CSHP has been contacting various members to include their perspectives in this consultation.

June to July, Health Canada Consultation on Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

Health Canada has started a consultation on the proposed Controlled Substances Regulations and related amendments to other federal regulations, including the Cannabis Regulations, as published in the Canada Gazette, Part I. CSHP is currently drafting a response to the proposal and will be seeking input from Branches on this consultation.

What's worth repeating

May 29, Hospital News featured section

As part of CSHP’s 2024 featured section in Hospital News, seven authors delve deep into the critical topic of sustainability in pharmacy and healthcare. To access these insightful articles, click here.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

June 04, 2024

Advocacy in Action: June 18

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Advocacy in Action: June 4

June 4, 2024

What's happened

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages Meetings

CSHP is continuing to monitor these ongoing drug shortages:

May 17 Tier Assignment Committee: Shortages of Loxapine
May 23 Tier Assignment Committe: Shortages of Irinotecan
May 30 Tier Assignment Committee: De-escalation of Calcitonin

What's happening

May to June, NAPRA Consultation on Modernization of Drug Schedules

After participating in an expert panel to modernize the NAPRA Drug Schedules, CSHP has been invited to consult on two potential models for non-prescription drug (NPD) scheduling and their respective terms of sale for inclusion in the updated program. CSHP will be contacting various members to include their perspectives in this consultation.

June 4, Choosing Wisely Canada Annual Meeting of the Societies

CSHP is attending a multilateral meeting with Choosing Wisely Canada alongside all stakeholders. The agenda includes discussions on the Choosing Wisely Climate Campaign and exploration of potential collaborations between the various organizations.

June 6, Transforming Primary Care in Canada Summit

CSHP CEO Jody Ciufo and CPO Rita Dhami will meet with pharmacy leaders, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and patient advocacy groups at CPhA’s inaugural national summit. The Transforming Primary Care in Canada Summit aims to reach a shared vision on the future roles of pharmacists and pharmacy teams in primary care, identify barriers and facilitators for integrating community pharmacies, and outline priority areas for actionable initiatives.

What's worth repeating

May 15, Choosing Wisely Canada Climate Conscious Recommendations

Professional Practice Specialist, Kiet-Nghi Cao, presented CSHP and CPhA’s joint hospital pharmacy recommendations to the hundreds in attendance on May 15’s Choosing Wisely Talks.

The presentation of our ten new recommendations was part of Choosing Wisely Canada’s 40 new recommendations focused on sustainability. These recommendations were developed by national societies or associations spanning 20 specialties. Their goal is to provide practical ways to stop or reduce routine practices harming the environment without compromising patient care.

To check out a recording of the presentation, click here.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

June 04, 2024

Advocacy in Action: June 4

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Advocacy in Action: May 7

May 7, 2024

What's happened

May 15, Choosing Wisely Canada Climate Conscious Recommendations

May 15, Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee on Drug Shortages

CPO, Rita Dhami, participated in the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee on Drug Shortages to help work towards a more rigorous, coordinated approach to handling shortages. Health Canada provided an update on work being done as they evolve into the new Drug Shortages Directorate. The engaging drug shortage sessions at PPC and the Harrison Management Seminar were a topic of discussion. Health Canada expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to participate at Harrison.

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages Meetings

CSHP is continuing to monitor these ongoing drug shortages:

May 7, Tier Assignment Committee: Shortages of Bupivacaine and epinephrine
May 17, Tier Assignment Committee: Thyrogen (Thyrotropin Alfa, 0.9 mg/vial)

What's happening

May to June, NAPRA Consultation on Modernization of Drug Schedules

CSHP was part of an expert panel contributing to the modernization of the NAPRA Drug Schedules. After initial discussions with expert groups, NAPRA has outlined two potential models for non-prescription drug (NPD) scheduling, along with their respective terms of sale, for potential inclusion in the updated program. Moving forward, CSHP will be asking all members to contribute to formulating a response to these proposals.

June 6, Transforming Primary Care in Canada Summit

CSHP CEO Jody Ciufo and CPO Rita Dhami will be meeting with pharmacy leaders from across Canada- along with other prominent healthcare professionals, policymakers, and patient advocacy groups- at CPhA’s inaugural national summit.

The Transforming Primary Care in Canada Summit aims to achieve consensus on the future roles of pharmacists and pharmacy teams in primary care. It will identify barriers and facilitators for integrating community pharmacies into primary care and outline priority areas for actionable initiatives.

What's worth repeating

April 19-21, Bilateral Meetings with Officers

Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada: Jaris Swidrovich and Cassandra McClelland
Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns: Madison Wong
Association des pharmaciens des établissements de santé du Québec: Julie Racicot, Linda Vaillant, and Suzanne Atkinson
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists: Nishaminy Kasbekar
Board of Pharmacy Specialties: Sejal Lewis
Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada: John Pugsley, Terri Schindel, and Harriet Davies

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

May 21, 2024

Advocacy in Action: May 21

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Advocacy in Action: May 7

May 7, 2024

What's happened

April 19-21, 2024 Bilateral Meetings with Officers

CSHP's executive team, comprising President Ashley Walus, President Elect Katie Hollis, Past President Sean Spina, and Treasurer Megan Riordon, together with CEO Jody Ciufo and CPO Rita Dhami, engaged in discussions with several external organizations to explore matters concerning hospital pharmacy practice and potential avenues for collaboration while attending the Professional Practice Conference 2024 including:

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists: Nishaminy Kasbekar
Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada: Jaris Swidrovich and Cassandra McClelland
Board of Pharmacy Specialties: Sejal Lewis
Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada: John Pugsley, Terri Schindel, and Harriet Davies
Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns: Madison Wong
Association des pharmaciens des établissements de santé du Québec: Julie Racicot, Linda Vaillant, and Suzanne Atkinson

Head to the bottom of this page to see some of the photos taken at these meetings!

April 30, Drug Shortages Expert Panel Meeting on National ‘At-Risk Medicines’ List

As part of a CIHR-funded project with Health Canada and Canada’s Drug Agency (formerly known as CADTH), CPO Rita Dhami joined an expert panel to discuss the clinical review of a national at-risk medicine list with the end goal of creating a systematic, adaptable, transparent, and regularly updated National Vulnerable Drugs List. The next steps in this process will include a public consultation. For information on the status of this project, please view CDA’s health technology review.

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages Meetings

CSHP is continuing to monitor these ongoing drug shortages:

April 29: Cisatracurium Health Canada Notice of Risk
April 26 Tier Assignment Committee - Shortages of Bupivacaine
April 3: Tier Assignment Committee - Supply disruptions of Ozempic
March 3: Tier Assignment Committee - Supply disruptions of Thiamine

What's happening

May 15, Choosing Wisely Canada Climate Conscious Recommendations

Professional Practice Specialist Kiet-Nghi Cao will present CSHP and CPhA’s joint hospital pharmacy recommendations at the Choosing Wisely Talks on May 15. This presentation is just a part of 41 new Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations focused on sustainability, developed by multiple national societies and associations spanning 20 specialties. All these recommendations will provide practical ways to stop or reduce routine practices harming the environment without compromising patient care. To register for this event, click here.

May, NAPRA Consultation on Modernization of Drug Schedules

CSHP was part of an expert panel contributing to the modernization of the NAPRA Drug Schedules. After initial discussions with expert groups, NAPRA has outlined two potential models for non-prescription drug (NPD) scheduling, along with their respective terms of sale, for potential inclusion in the updated program. In the coming weeks, CSHP will be involving its branches and members in formulating a response to these proposals.

June 6, Transforming Primary Care in Canada Summit

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

March 12, 2024

Advocacy in Action: May 7

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Advocacy in Action: March 12

March 12, 2024

February 1, Special Multistakeholder Committee Debrief

Health Canada provided stakeholders with more information on Florida's bulk importation proposal and the associated regulatory measures the government is enacting to minimize its impact Canadians. CSHP CPO Rita Dhami expressed her concerns about the proposal, highlighting the potential consequences for certain patient groups and called for increased protection of a Vulnerable Drugs List.

February 1, Choosing Wisely Canada Meeting of the Associations and Societies

CSHP participated in the Meeting of the Associations and Societies hosted by Choosing Wisely Canada. The meeting's main agenda revolved around developing a handbook addressing climate change with an emphasis on hospital pharmacy-based recommendations. CSHP and CPhA will be collaborating to craft recommendations relevant to the pharmacy sector.

February 5, ASOP Canada FDA Drug Importation Letter to Minister Holland

Following up the Special Multistakeholder Committee Debrief on February 1, CSHP cosigned a letter alongside members of ASOP Canada that requested further meetings to discuss gaps identified in the current regulatory framework.

February 8, Drug Shortages Expert Review Panel

As part of a multistakeholder panel, CSHP is working to develop a framework to assess the clinical and supply chain risk of certain drugs. In turn, this tool will aid in creating a systematic, adaptable, transparent, and regularly updated National Vulnerable Drugs List. For information on the status of this project, please view CADTH’s health technology review.

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages Meetings

CSHP is continuing to monitor these ongoing drug shortages:

February 22 : Health Canada Meeting on Shortages of Semaglutide (Ozempic): – CSHP is actively engaged in multistakeholder meetings with Health Canada to oversee the supply of Ozempic. Despite ongoing efforts to enhance and stabilize the situation, intermittent delays may persist for Canadians due to sustained high global demand.
February 26: Tier Assignment Committee (Propofol Injectable) – Health Canada is closely monitoring the propofol supply situation and has designated it as a Tier 3 shortage, indicating its significant potential impact on Canada's drug supply and healthcare system. It will be listed on the shortages list accordingly.
February 27: Tier Assignment Committee (Thiamine Injectable)– Both market authorization holders in Canada, Omega and Sandoz, are reporting a shortage of Thiamine Hydrochloride Injectable. This shortage has been classified as Tier 3, prompting the drug shortages unit to seek foreign-authorized supply to address the issue.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

March 12, 2024

Advocacy in Action: March 12

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CSHP's statement on FDA’s Approval of Canadian Drug Importation

January 16, 2024

On January 5, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Florida’s plan to import prescription drugs from Canada in an effort to reduce the drug costs to the American consumer. The Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP) remains opposed to any exportation of medicines from Canada and will ramp up our advocacy to the U.S. Federal and state governments, as well as the FDA, to address the underlying drivers of drug shortages and pricing in the U.S.

“Canada cannot stock America’s medicine cabinet,” says CSHP President Ashley Walus. “Our drug supply is not the answer to the problem of high drug prices in the United States.”

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) also acknowledges that drug importation from Canada is not a real solution because it is not a meaningful response to drug pricing and has the potential to disrupt the pharmacist-patient relationship.

While the details of Florida’s plan are still to be released, Canada took precautionary steps in August 2021 in response to various states exploring legislation to import prescription drugs. Health Canada bolstered the existing limitations in our healthcare legislation to stipulate that pharmaceuticals intended for the domestic market cannot be distributed outside of Canada if it will cause or exacerbate a shortage of a drug.

“The intention of some U.S. states to tap into Canada’s supply isn’t new,” says CSHP CEO Jody Ciufo. “In 2019, CSHP joined the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies Canada (ASOP Canada) along with 12 other organizations to advocate against the export of Canadian drugs. We appeared before various state legislatures, met with U.S. federalrepresentatives, and featured prominently in media stories about the issue – and will do this again to actively protect our drug supply.”

CSHP is engaged with Health Canada and applauds their notification to regulated parties of their legal obligations not to distribute drugs for consumption outside of Canada if the distribution will cause or worsen a shortage of the drug. Just as important is their plan to enforce existing regulations: “The Department will not hesitate to take immediate action to address non-compliance, ranging from requesting a plan for corrective measures, issuing a public advisory or other forms of communication, to taking action on the licenses of regulated parties who contravene the export prohibition if warranted.”

Along with these safeguards, CSHP believes in the importance of these collective efforts to address the complexities associated with drug importation and its potential impact on patient care. “We are aligned with our peers including CPhA, are a member of ASOP Canada, and we will continue to safeguard the supply chain intended for Canadian patients,” says CSHP President Ashley Walus.

For more information please contact: Dr. Rita Dhami, Chief Pharmacy Officer at rdhami@cshp.ca.

January 16, 2024

CSHP's statement on FDA’s Approval of Canadian Drug Importation

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Advocacy in Action: December 5

December 5, 2023

What's happened

November 22, Choosing Wisely Canada Consultation

CSHP provided feedback on Choosing Wisely Canada’s clinical biochemistry recommendations which will ultimately be released in early 2024 by the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists.

November 27, Drug Shortages Expert Review Panel

CPO Rita Dhami officially joined a panel of experts representing various pharmacy sectors that will be contributing to a CIHR-funded project. This collaborative initiative is led by the University of Toronto, Health Canada, and CADTH, with the goal of creating a systematic, adaptable, transparent, and regularly updated national list of at-risk medicines.

November 30, Natural Health Products Consultation

CSHP is providing ongoing feedback on the first round of new and updated natural health product monographs as part of the implementation of the new Natural Health Product (NHP) labelling initiative. This Natural and Non-Prescription Health Product Directoriate (NNHPD) led project is currently in its first round of consultations where CSHP is focused on accessing the accuracy, conciseness, and consistency of statements in their monographs.

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages Meetings

CSHP is continuing to monitor these ongoing drug shortages:

Nov 16: Tier Assignment Committee – Lidocaine/Bupivicaine (with and without Epinephrine)
Nov 22: Multi-Stakeholder Call – Shortages of Amoxicillin
Dec. 1: Multi-Stakeholder Call – Lidocaine/Bupivicaine (with and without Epinephrine)

What's happening

December 5, Multilateral Meeting with Health Canada / Marketed Health Products Directorate

The CSHP Executive team, alongside our partners at A.P.E.S. and several other key stakeholders, will be participating in a multilateral meeting with Health Canada. This meeting will provide us with updates from the various divisions of Health Canada including the Marketed Health Products Branch, Pharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, and Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate.

December 15, Consultation Canadian Council of Accreditation for Pharmacy Programs – Pharmacy technicians

CSHP was invited to consult and provide feedback on the Canadian Council of Accreditation for Pharmacy Programs’ first draft on their updated standards for pharmacy technicians programs.

What's worth repeating

October, Health Canada consultation on the Handbook for healthcare professionals on biosimilar biologic drugs

Professional Practice Specialist Kiet-Nghi Cao joined a working group of subject matter consultants from across the country to help with the development of a Health Canada handbook focused on informing and educating healthcare professionals on biosimilars. The guidelines will provide background on the immunogenicity of biosimilars, details on authorization, accessibility, and monitoring of them, and includes example case studies. This handbook is now available and can be found here.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
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December 05, 2023

Advocacy in Action: December 5

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Advocacy in Action: November 7

November 7, 2023

What's happened

October 16, CSHP-CASCADES Exploring Collaboration Opportunities on Sustainability in Hospital Pharmacy

After the successful launch of the Playbook on Climate Resilient, Low Carbon Sustainable Pharmacy with CSHP as a proud collaborator, Professional Practice team met with CASCADES to explore further potential collaborations focusing on sustainability practices in hospital pharmacy.

October 24, Mohawk-Medbuy Presentation on Sustainability in Hospital Pharmacy

CPO Rita Dhami attended the annual Pharmacy Committee Meeting at Mohawk-Medbuy where she shared recommendations from the CSHP Sustainability Task Force. Rita also highlighted the opportunities hospital pharmacy's clinical and operations teams can take to integrate sustainable considerations into procurement and practices.

October, Health Canada consultation on the Handbook for healthcare professionals on biosimilar biologic drugs

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages Meetings

CSHP is continuing to monitor these ongoing drug shortages:

Oct 16: Multi-Stakeholder Call – Supply disruptions of Ozempic
Oct 18: Multi-Stakeholder Call – Shortages of Amoxicillin oral
Oct 27: Multi-Stakeholder Call – Supply disruptions of Ozempic
Nov 1: Clinical Stakeholders Call – Supply disruptions of Ozempic
Nov 2: Tier Assignment Committee – Review of de-escalation of Erwinase

What's worth repeating

October 5, Roundtable on Meeting of the Health Product Supply Chain Advisory Committee

The Drug Shortages Task Force, including Rita and Assistant Deputy Minister Stefania Trombetti, met for a roundtable discussion. Deputy Minister Trombetti provided stakeholders with an overview of the consultation results on public drug shortages and informed committee members that Health Canada would develop a summary 'What we heard' document that would be shared with them soon.

October 6, Collaboration on a National ‘At-Risk Medicines’ List

As part of a CIHR-funded project with Health Canada and CADTH, Rita will join an expert panel to develop a national at-risk medicine list.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

November 07, 2023

Advocacy in Action: November 7

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2023 AGM Weekend Recap – Meet the new CSHP President, Board members and task forces!

November 7, 2023

From October 20 to 22, CSHP held Board meetings and its Annual General Meeting in Montréal.

Throughout the weekend Board members, Executive members, Branch presidents, and CSHP staff had plenty of discussions on priority topics for CSHP and hospital pharmacy. Keep reading to learn what happened!

Board of Directors changes

The Board saw a few changes over AGM weekend. Very notable was the departure of CSHP National Board of Directors stalwart, Zack Dumont; he took his final bows after more than a decade of demanding work on the Board of Directors- and Saskatchewan Branch leadership before that. Throughout his tenure, Zack has touched everything from a pharmacy technician task force to being an expert and speaker for CSHP’s Hospital Pharmacy 101 to being a co-chair of the Vision for the Hospital Pharmacy Profession Task Force, and much more. His dedication and knowledge on top of his unprecedented two-year presidency where he led CSHP through a time of uncertainty. CSHP is incredibly grateful to Zack who remains committed to CSHP with his presence on committees, serving as Saskatchewan Branch’s secretary and, as of AGM weekend, as a proud CSHP Fellow!

Other moves on the Board include Sean Spina taking up the Past President mantle after leading CSHP through the end of the 2020-2023 strategic plan. Ashley Walus was promoted to the President position where she will be focused on incorporating CSHP’s vision for hospital pharmacy into the next strategic plan. Katie Hollis officially stepped into her role as President-Elect. As for representation from the Branches, CSHP bid adieu to the now-former New Brunswick Delegate Chantal Michaud along with former Student Delegate Abby Krupski and then welcomed New Brunswick’s new delegate Timothy MacLaggan and Student Delegate Jacqueline Tian-Tran from the University of Saskatchewan.

Task forces

Vision for the Hospital Pharmacy Profession Task Force
The Vision for the Hospital Pharmacy Profession Task Force crafted 12 outstanding vision statements unanimously approved by the Board. They are as follows:

Pharmacy professionals engage in shared decision-making to provide evidence-informed care that incorporates patients' values, needs, and preferences.
Pharmacy professionals provide equitable, culturally appropriate care tailored to the populations they serve.
Pharmacy professionals collaborate to address patients' medication needs across the continuum of care.
Pharmacy professionals engage patients and their caregivers in managing the patient's health and wellness.
Pharmacy professionals optimize patient care by practicing with their full and expanding scope of responsibilities.
Pharmacy professionals develop and maintain leadership skills to benefit their patients, themselves, and the profession.
Pharmacy professionals meet complex practice needs in healthcare systems by engaging in formal training opportunities, including specialization and credentialling.
Pharmacy professionals are engaged in the education and mentorship of peers, future hospital pharmacy professionals, and other health care providers.
Pharmacy professionals pursue innovative solutions to improve access and provide care to patients in the most appropriate location, which may include their homes or local communities.
Pharmacy professionals lead quality improvement and research initiatives with a focus on medication use, pharmacy practice, and resource allocation.
Pharmacy professionals lead and implement rational medication use practices that are fiscally and environmentally sustainable.
Pharmacy professionals promote diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging, both within the pharmacy profession and the broader healthcare system.

In a task force led by Co-Chairs Zack Dumont and Mary Gunther, these statements were narrowed down over a three-round process through a Delphi panel. On this panel, there were representatives from patient advocacy, IPPC, APES, CAPSI, Technicians, AFPC, 2SLGBTQA+ advocacy, and, for the first time, patients.

With these statements agreed upon by the Board, this task force has been dissolved and will be replaced with a Vision Implementation Task Force. This new task force will concentrate on a plan to put the proposed work into practice in line with the approved vision statements.

Sustainability Task force
The Sustainability Task Force produced a set of short-term and long-term recommendations covering various aspects of CSHP work. This work will include:

Advocacy & partnership
Education
Policy and procedure development
Research and quality improvement
Branding.

These recommendations advocate to Accreditation Canada, NAPRA, plus federal and provincial governments for the inclusion of environmental sustainability criteria, standards, and practices.

They also plan for the creation of a planetary health education series, guideline development for sustainable conferences, and establishing a dedicated sustainability section on the CSHP website.

This task force was also dissolved and is being replaced by a Sustainability Implementation Task Force. With several fresh faces on board, the new task force will be putting these approved recommendations into action.

The cornerstone of progress

On top of these changes, Board members and Branch presidents were able to take in highly anticipated updates from CSHP’s Year in Review. Topping out the list was continuous membership growth and brand-new non-dues revenue sources. The Hospital Pharmacy in Canada Survey Report is now more accessible than ever through multiple webinars, conference sessions, etc. Hospital Pharmacy 101 program sales continue to climb. These and other promising developments will be presented in CSHP’s upcoming 2022-23 Annual Report – so stay tuned to see how the past year has set the stage for great things from CSHP!

November 07, 2023

2023 AGM Weekend Recap – Meet the new CSHP President, Board members and task forces!

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Advocacy in Action: October 10

October 10, 2023

What's happened

September 26, Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies member meeting

The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Canada), known for its research, education, advocacy, and policy efforts, strives to address the growing threat of illegal online drug sellers to public health. CSHP CPO Rita Dhami attended one of their member meetings at the end of September to learn more about ASOP’s government engagement plans and results from their recent survey in addition to being told about their plans for a toolkit.

October 5, Roundtable on Meeting of the Health Product Supply Chain Advisory Committee

The Drug Shortages Task Force, including Rita and Assistant Deputy Minister Stefania Trombetti, met again for a roundtable discussion. Deputy Minister Trombetti provided stakeholders with an overview of the consultation results on public drug shortages and informed committee members that Health Canada would develop a summary 'What we heard' document that would be shared with them soon.

October 6, Collaboration on a National ‘At-Risk Medicines’ List

As part of a CIHR-funded project with Health Canada and CADTH, Rita will join an expert panel to develop a national at-risk medicine list.

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages meetings

CSHP is continuing to monitor these ongoing drug shortages:

Sept. 28: Multi-Stakeholder Call #15 – Shortages of Paediatric Analgesics
Sept. 29: Multi-Stakeholder Call #3 – Supply disruptions of Ozempic

What's worth repeating

September 12, Appropriate Use Advisory Committee Interim Report Roundtable

A unified appropriate-use program is being developed by the Canadian Drug Agency (CDA) to improve the pharmaceutical landscape. During this interim report roundtable, Rita spoke about the importance of promoting evidence-based approaches and interventions to improve the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to identifying drivers of inappropriate use, hospital pharmacy teams also employ multi-pronged behaviour change strategies in order to improve prescribing.

September 14, European Association of Hospital Pharmacists

President Sean Spina, CEO Jody Ciufo, and CPO Rita Dhami met with Ambassadors from the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) where EAHP introduced their organization and its strategic priorities. Over the course of this meeting, both organizations found several areas of overlap in their work including a shared focus on vision for practice, drug shortages, sustainability, and human resource challenges. It is expected that this meeting will be the first of many collaborations between CSHP and EAHP.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

October 10, 2023

Advocacy in Action: October 10

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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2023

September 30, 2023

IPPC, CSHP, CPhA and CAPSI are proud to have shared commitments towards Truth and Reconciliation for pharmacy practice.

In the spirit of this commitment,we've posted this collaborative content to serve as a resource for years to come.

Originally posted on Sept. 25, 2023

Originally posted on Sept. 27, 2023

Originally posted on Sept. 28, 2023

Originally posted on Sept. 29, 2023

Originally posted on Sept. 30, 2023

Originally posted on Sept. 30, 2023

September 30, 2023

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2023

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Advocacy in Action: September 26

September 26, 2023

What's happened

September 1, Roundtable on Improving Canada’s Medical Countermeasure Readiness for Health Emergencies

CPO Rita Dhami participated in a roundtable with Deputy Minister Stephen Lucas and spoke on how to improve Canada's medical countermeasure preparedness for future health emergencies. Rita covered hospital pandemic preparedness plans including interdepartmental key accountabilities and critical paths. Additionally, she stressed the importance of coordination among all healthcare providers across Canada, as well as the importance of public communication and education.

September 12, Appropriate Use Advisory Committee Interim Report Roundtable

September 14, European Association of Hospital Pharmacists meeting

Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP) President Sean Spina, CEO Jody Ciufo, and CPO Rita Dhami met with Ambassadors from the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) where EAHP introduced their organization and its strategic priorities. Over the course of this meeting, both organizations found several areas of overlap in their work including a shared focus on vision for practice, drug shortages, sustainability, and human resource challenges. It is expected that this meeting will be the first of many collaborations between CSHP and EAHP.

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages meetings

CSHP is providing weekly feedback and amplifying the voice of hospital pharmacy on drug shortages.

Sept. 15: Multi-Stakeholder Call #2 – Supply disruptions of Ozempic
Sept. 20: Multi-Stakeholder Call #12 – Shortages of Amoxicillin Oral Suspension/Capsules/Tablets

What's happening

September 25, Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program

CSHP will be attending a meeting regarding the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance program, a collaboration between the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML), which will be addressing the program’s Antimicrobial Medication Use data in hospitals. The meeting will also highlight protocols and current advocacy to bring new antimicrobials to Canada. As advocates for antimicrobial stewardship, CSHP looks forward to being updated on these topics and their impact on hospital pharmacy.

What's worth repeating

August 30, Drug Shortages Consultation has been submitted

CSHP’s submission provided four fundamental pillars that serve as a blueprint for collaborative action between Health Canada and fellow stakeholders. View the submission here.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!

September 26, 2023

Advocacy in Action: September 26

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Advocacy in Action: August 29

August 29, 2023

What's happened

August 22, Roundtable meeting with Assistant Deputy Minister Stefania Trombetti

CEO Jody Ciufo and CPO Rita Dhami participated alongside Assistant Deputy Minister for Health Canada, Stefania Trombetti, the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA), and the Canadian Paediatric Society. Solutions to improve access to drugs and other healthcare products in Canada were discussed. CSHP highlighted key aspects of our drug shortages consultation (read below).

August 23, Canadian Medical Association (CMA) 'Net Zero' meeting

Rita Dhami met with CMA Lead Sarah Lowden to explore collaboration opportunities to achieve a more sustainable healthcare system.

August 24, Canadian Healthcare Workforce Network meeting

Ivy Bourgeault and Dr. Natalie Crown, Project Leads of Health Human Resources initiatives, met with Rita to discuss their success in developing a toolkit to help health workers cope with burnout and an upcoming research opportunity pertaining to pharmacy health human resources.

August 25, Letter to Hon. Minister of Health Mark Holland

Jody Ciufo’s letter introduces CSHP and conveys the Society’s commitment to working with Minister Holland to promote the highest standards of healthcare and patient well-being in Canada.

Ongoing, Health Canada Drug Shortages meetings

CSHP is providing weekly feedback and amplifying the voice of hospital pharmacy on drug shortages

Aug 16: Multi-Stakeholder Call #11 – Shortages of Amoxicillin Oral Suspension/Capsules/Tablets
Aug 23: Multi-Stakeholder Call – Impending supply disruptions of Ozempic
Aug 24: Tier Assignment Committee Meeting – Potassium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Dextrose 50%
Aug 25: Tier Assignment Committee Review – Hydralazine and Primene 10%

What's happening

August 30, Drug Shortages Consultation to be submitted

CSHP’s submission provides four fundamental pillars that serve as a blueprint for collaborative action between Health Canada and fellow stakeholders.

Improved communication and transparency
- Improved two-way communication and transparency from hospitals and manufacturers
- Earlier identification process for shortages and turn-around to Tier Assignment Committee
Agile regulatory toolbox
- Reassessment of outsourced drug preparation (previously known as commercial compounding) legislation to inform where compounding can support shortages
Greater supply chain visibility
- Development of harmonized barcoding standards
Enhanced response to supply and demand
- Coordination of collaboration between CSHP and Medical Organizations to develop tools/resources to support hospital clinicians during shortages
- Development of ethical framework to respond to shortages and prioritize patients consistently

What's worth repeating

Tier 3 shortage: Hydrocortisone Injections

On August 2, Solu-Cortef® was deemed a Tier 3 shortage and was posted on the Tier 3 drug shortages list. While the shortage of the 100mg strength has ended and the estimated end dates for the 500mg and 1g injections remain the same, the 250mg shortage has been extended to September 11.

To catch up on CSHP advocacy news, click here.

Have a question about Advocacy in Action or CSHP's advocacy and consultation work?
Reach out to our professional practice team!