Health committee  I think one is creating the other. Any recall of any particular drug in a market, depending on that drug and the situation—is it a single source or is it multi-source?—might lead to shortages.

Health committee  We've been talking via the industry in regard to shortages, and obviously most recently related to the warning letter.

Health committee  It's clear that a recall could potentially create shortages.

Health committee  Regarding the correctly labelled morphine product put in a wrong box, we've acted rapidly to not only secure patients' safety by recalling the products and putting all of the products in quarantine, but we've worked rapidly with Health Canada to reinspect the 10,000 boxes of 10 ampoules and resupply the market.

Health committee  Sandoz has been manufacturing products, key medicine, for the last 30 years. It is the first time that our company in Boucherville received a warning letter. The way the system works in regard to...each of our applications for a new product is linked with one manufacturing site.

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

Health committee  We worked with HealthPRO to help identify which of the 235 different presentations were going to be the most important for us to keep in our production schedule. At the same time, we rapidly identified additional sources of supply around the world. We were pleased to announce three weeks ago that we filed with Health Canada 15 new submissions on current products that are being manufactured in Boucherville that we will be able to bring to Canada from an alternate source.

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

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

Health committee  Sorry?

Health committee  This has been made available for the last four weeks.

Health committee  You're talking about the report?

Health committee  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.

Health committee  We announced the shortages on February 15—

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