About The Study: Drug-related reports of supply chain issues were 40% less likely to result in meaningful drug shortages in Canada compared with the U.S. These findings highlight the need for international cooperation between countries to curb the effects of drug shortages and improve resiliency of the supply chain for drugs.
Quote from corresponding author Katie J. Suda, PharmD, MS:
"Our U.S. drug supply chain is linked globally – shortages in one country can happen in another country – presenting an opportunity to compare and contrast how different countries are affected. When we compared the U.S. to Canada for drugs with the same supply chain issues, Canada was 40% less likely to experience national drug shortages than the U.S.
"The U.S. can learn from other countries' pharmaceutical policy to mitigate the impact of shortages on access to essential medications. We also need to cooperate locally and globally to strengthen our pharmaceutical supply chain and regionally to recognize the interconnectedness of supply chains essential for North American health security."
