Medical device shortages: Report a shortage

It is now mandatory for manufacturers and importers to report shortages of medical devices related to COVID-19 to Health Canada.

The requirements are outlined in the Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in relation to COVID-19. The Interim Order specifies which medical device shortages must be reported.

How to report

The following information must be included in shortage reports:

name and contact information for the manufacturer or the importer
medical device licence number in the case of Class II, III or IV devices
identifier of the device
- includes the identifier of any medical device that is part of a system, test kit, medical device group, medical device family or device group family
name of the device and of any component, accessory, part or consumable material of the affected device, including, if applicable, the model name
description of the medical device
date on which the shortage began or is anticipated to begin
date on which the manufacturer anticipates meeting the demand for the medical device, if known

At a minimum, these fields must be completed when submitting a medical device shortage report, update, or final report to Health Canada.