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:
- a review of the information gathered on the drug shortage
- a thorough discussion of the potential impact of the shortage
- a discussion of next steps to be taken to mitigate the impact of the shortage
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAA (Albumin) | August 7, 2026 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies | No |
| Gluceptate (Calcium Glucoheptonate, Stannous Chloride Dihydrate) | August 7, 2026 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies | No |
| Etoposide 50mg capsules | August 5, 2026 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies | No |
| Dextrose 50% Injection | 2026-07-16 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy | No |
| Aprepitant Oral Capsules | 2026-07-15 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies | No |
| Mesna for Injection (preservative-free) | 2026-06-22 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies | No |
| Calcitriol Injection | 2026-06-22 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Society of Nephrologists, Canadian Association of Paediatric Nephrologists | No |
| Dexamethasone 4mg/ML Injection | 2026-06-24 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy | No |
| Aminophylline Injection | 2026-06-05 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Cardiovascular Society | No |
| Calcitonin | 2026-05-15 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Rheumatology Association, Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism | No |
| Famotidine Injection | 2025-04-29 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology | No |
| Verteporfin for Injection | 2025-09-25 | Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Ophthalmological Society | No |
| Cefazolin in Dextrose Injection - Ready to Use Bags | 2025-05-30 | Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare-Systems Pharmacy | No |
| Disopyramide | 2025-05-22 | Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy | No |
| Peginterferon Alfa-2A | 2024-11-25 | Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare-Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies | No |
| Lomustine | 2024-08-06 | Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health representing the Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies | No |
| Glucagon for Injection, rDNA origin | 2023-04-20 | 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 |
| Apomorphine Hydrochloride | 2023-11-14 | Health Canada, British Columbia - Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Parkinson Canada | No |
| Bicillin L-A (Penicillin G benzathine) | 2025-12-15 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Pharmacists Association | No |
| Cyclophosphamide for Injection | 2026-02-20 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies | No |
| Ifosfamide Injection | 2025-12-19 | Health Canada, British Columbia – Ministry of Health representing Provincial and Territorial Drug Shortage Task Team, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Pharmacy, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies | No |