Help is on the way is the message Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told reporters at a local Shopper Drug Mart in Edmonton..Smith held a press conference on Tuesday to announce to combat the shortage of children’s pain and fever medicine, Alberta has secured five million bottles of children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen for families..The Alberta government says for two months, parents and caregivers across Canada have faced a shortage of children’s pain and fever medication. This shortage is placing additional stress on families and on the health system, as more Albertans are visiting pharmacies, physicians, and hospitals..To ensure children’s pain and fever medication is available across the province and bring relief to children and families, the Alberta government and Alberta Health Services (AHS) have secured a supply of five million units of acetaminophen and ibuprofen from Atabay Pharmaceuticals and Fine Chemicals..“Cold and flu season is always difficult on young children and their families and causes additional strain on our health system, especially at our children’s hospitals," said Smith. ."The shortage of children’s pain relief medication is exacerbating these challenges and causing a tremendous amount of anxiety for families.".Smith said the Alberta government is working cooperatively with Health Canada and urges them to expedite all necessary approvals in the coming days to load this massive shipment of pain relief medication on to the airplanes it has secured to bring this pain relief medication to Alberta families and children..The medication will be manufactured at a Health Canada-approved facility overseas. Packaging will follow Health Canada guidelines..The retail cost to the consumer will be in line with the average cost for this type of medication. Drugs imported to Canada must meet safety, quality and efficacy regulations set out by Health Canada in order to be authorized for import..Many western countries already import products from Atabay, including:.United States of AmericaUnited KingdomGermanyNetherlandsFranceSwitzerlandItalyPoland.“I want to thank Alberta Health Services for taking on the task for procuring this valuable medication and all our health-care professionals during this challenging time," said Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping. ."The current situation has also meant busy hospitals and doctors’ offices, as parents run out of options to treat their little ones.".The Alberta government and AHS are working with Health Canada on completing the drug establishment licensing approval process. Once the approval is granted, the medication will be delivered to Alberta over 10 air shipments..As soon as the medication arrives in the province, it will be distributed to community and retail pharmacies so that parents and caregivers can purchase it for their children. Because Alberta’s government has secured so many bottles of the pain and fever medication, it is expected that Albertans will be able to find it on pharmacy shelves in the same way they have previously found name-brand medicines..Individual pharmacies will have the ability to issue the medicine from behind the counter if they are concerned about their store’s supply..Atabay Pharmaceuticals and Fine Chemicals has Health Canada approval for its raw ingredients and sends the same doses Alberta is working to acquire to other nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
