Tier 3 drug shortages

Tier 3 shortages are those that have the greatest potential impact on Canada's drug supply and health care system. Medical necessity and low availability of alternative supplies, ingredients or therapies determine the degree of impact.

The Tier Assignment Committee (TAC) includes federal, provincial and territorial governments, health care professionals and industry stakeholders. TAC makes recommendations on the tier assignment of actual and anticipated drug shortages based on:

Drugs in or at risk of Tier 3 shortages may be eligible for exceptional importation and sale. For more information, please consult the Guide to the exceptional importation and sale of drugs in response to drug shortages (GUI-0148).

Drugs that are allowed to be imported and sold in order to mitigate a critical shortage are found on the List of drugs for exceptional importation and sale.

Drug (Active Ingredient) Date of Tier 3 Determination TAC Committee Membership Used in the treatment of COVID-19 and/or related conditions (Yes/No)
Thiamine Hydrochloride, 100 MG/ML February 27, 2024 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists No
Propofol Proactively assigned February 26, 2024 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society No
Cisatracurium February 16, 2024 Health Canada, British Columbia - Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Critical Care Society, Canadian Anesthesiologists Society No
Colesevelam Proactively assigned, February 15, 2024 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology No
Tamsulosin Hydrochloride January 26, 2024 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Canadian Urological Association No
Cholestyramine January 26, 2024 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology No
Colestipol Proactively assigned January 26, 2024 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology No
Aminophylline March 19, 2024 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Cardiovascular Society No
Bupivacaine January 18, 2024 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society Hospital Pharmacists, Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society No
Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP1) Receptor Agonists November 24, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia - Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Neighbourhood Pharmacists Association of Canada No
Dipyridamole Injection June 21, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Canadian Cardiovascular Association No
Prazosin 1mg, 2mg, 5mg Tablets May 19, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Canadian Cardiovascular Society, Department of National Defence No
Thyrotropin Alfa, 0.9 mg/vial May 19, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies No
Glucagon for Injection, rDNA origin April 20, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Canadian Pediatric Endocrine Group, Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism No
Argatroban for Injection May 8, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Hematology Society No
Apomorphine Hydrochloride November 14, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia - Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Parkinson Canada No
Nitroglycerin Spray 0.4 MG/ACT February 28, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia - Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Cardiovascular Society No
Ophthalmic Steroids- Difluprednate 0.05% October 14, 2022 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Canadian Ophthalmological Society No
Vigabatrin, powder for oral solution August 26, 2022 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian League Against Epilepsy No
Calcitonin - Calcimar January 30, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia - Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Canadian Rheumatology Association, Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism No
Eluxadoline - Viberzi September 20, 2022 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Ontario Association of Gastroenterology No
Triamcinolone Hexacetonide Proactively assigned August 2, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Rheumatology Association No
Potassium Chloride For Injection August 24, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists No
Calcium Chloride Injection August 24, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists No
Dextrose Injection August 24, 2023 Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists No

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