Evidence of meeting #36 for Health in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was market.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jim Keon  President, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
Russell Williams  President, Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx & D)
David Johnston  President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution Management
Kathleen Boyle  Vice-President, Services, HealthPRO Procurement Services Inc.
Michel Robidoux  President, Sandoz Canada, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
Mark Ferdinand  Senior Director, Health and Economic Policy, Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx & D)
Michael Blanchard  Clinical Director, Pharmacy Services, HealthPRO Procurement Services Inc.
Jeremy Desai  President and Chief Operating Officer, Apotex Inc., Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON

Yes.

9:50 a.m.

President, Sandoz Canada, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Michel Robidoux

We have posted current and prospective back orders on our website since February 15. We did that for two weeks and then we realized we needed more transparency in working with the provinces, the hospitals, and the pharmacies. Our report has evolved significantly, and today it's one of the best, most comprehensive status reports we can provide to health care professionals. It enables them to see which format is discontinued or suspended and to use the report to plan the way to manage patients as best as possible.

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON

But you've only done that in the last 28 days.

9:50 a.m.

President, Sandoz Canada, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Michel Robidoux

We announced the shortages on February 15—

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON

That's fine.

9:50 a.m.

President, Sandoz Canada, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Michel Robidoux

—and I think if I go back two weeks later, we had this comprehensive report.

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON

On another issue, your company recently recalled drugs sent to hospitals because of a packaging error. So there is yet another place where transparency with the public may be a challenge. This resulted in important drugs also not being available. Patients arriving in hospital were not able to receive what they needed. A parent arriving with a child, maybe at the Hospital for Sick Children, was being sent home because of your drug not being available because of a packaging error.

Do you take responsibility for that?

9:50 a.m.

President, Sandoz Canada, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Michel Robidoux

I thank you for raising the issue with regard to morphine. This is an issue we have dealt with.

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON

And could you tell me, please, and the committee how the mistake took place? How did that happen within your company, and what are you doing to make sure that this doesn't occur again? It contributed to shortages, but also, quite frankly, to the concern of the Canadian public.

9:50 a.m.

President, Sandoz Canada, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Michel Robidoux

Yes. First, let me say we were very unhappy about this one product that had correctly labelled ampoules put in the wrong box. When we were made aware of the situation by one hospital in Ontario, we immediately quarantined all our current product. I have to say that this happened on the morphine 2 milligram per ml, which is one of the 13 presentations of morphine available on the market—one of the 13.

We worked rapidly with Health Canada to ensure patient safety, and at the same time to ensure supply.

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON

I don't want to know what you did after. How did the mistake happen?

9:50 a.m.

President, Sandoz Canada, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Michel Robidoux

We're currently running an internal investigation about this situation. We're unhappy about it. We have found this one box out of a lot of 16,000 boxes, and clearly—

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON

I recognize you're unhappy.

9:50 a.m.

President, Sandoz Canada, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Michel Robidoux

I recognize we're unhappy.

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON

How did the mistake happen, and what are you doing to fix it for the future? I would like to know what specific things you're going to do in your company to make sure that Canadian patients are safe.

9:50 a.m.

President, Sandoz Canada, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Michel Robidoux

To address your previous question about supply, you affirmed that there was a shortage—

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON

I'd like you to answer the question I posed to you: what happened, how did it occur, and what do you plan to do to make sure it doesn't happen in the future—the specifics? I want to make sure that Canadian patients are safe.

9:50 a.m.

President, Sandoz Canada, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Michel Robidoux

I'm not going to go into the specifics of that particular situation.

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joy Smith

Excuse me. At the committee, sir, you were asked a question. I will ask you to answer it specifically.

9:50 a.m.

President, Sandoz Canada, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Michel Robidoux

We are currently running an internal investigation to strengthen our quality process in regard to packaging. That situation occurred in the packaging area of our site. We're currently reviewing this specific lot and ensuring that all of our processes are going to be strictly followed moving forward.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON

I think my time is up.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joy Smith

You have about another minute.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON

I have one last question.

On March 12, Sandoz sent a note to the minister in which you stated specifically that you had adopted a comprehensive action plan to “help secure continued supply of critical injectable medications”.

What are the component parts of that comprehensive action plan? Could you please outline them to the committee? Again, I would like specifics, not generalities.

9:55 a.m.

President, Sandoz Canada, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Michel Robidoux

From the get-go we worked to identify the key most important medically necessary products.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON

In the last 14 days—you say from the get-go, so March 12 would be your get-go—who are the specific individuals you have worked with, and what are the specifics on them?