Health committee  What I was working to say, Mr. Chair, is we have a variety of tools available now. We continue to look at other strategies, including essential medicines that we established during the pandemic—as has been transparently documented, a critical drug reserve—and we are learning the

Health committee  Mr. Chair, I have spoken—

Health committee  I have spoken about multiple strategies being undertaken, including strengthening our capability, working with global regulators, working with manufacturers, strengthening domestic biomanufacturing as that strengthens work to resolve issues domestically, and looking at the experi

Health committee  First of all, the key factors that have created the drug shortage situation, as I said, are the difficulties with the manufacturers—

Health committee  First, the cost of drugs appears to be a key factor in creating shortages in Canada, plain and simple. Second, the regulatory system in Canada, in this case the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, or PMPRB, ensures that Canadian consumers are protected from excessive prices.

Health committee  As we've noted, a number of factors are contributing to it. We have seen a more sustained level of viral infections in children, above the normal level. These are from COVID and other respiratory viruses that have increased in the fall, with respiratory syncytial virus, influenza

Health committee  I'll turn to Stefania Trombetti and Linsey Hollett to talk about that process.

Health committee  Mr. Chair, I and Dr. Sharma and perhaps other witnesses will respond, given the range of points that were made. I will start by indicating, as I noted, that Health Canada, from the earliest indication of potential shortages in the spring, actively engaged manufacturers, of which

Health committee  Yes, they can have an impact. That's why we're working to diversify supply and strengthen manufacturing in Canada.

Health committee  Mr. Chair, I'll highlight several dimensions. One of them, as noted, is that we have over the past number of years built our internal capacity for forecasting and understanding supply and demand; early identification of potential risks and shortages; and changing our regulatory

Health committee  Mr. Chair, as I noted, the government has invested to strengthen biomanufacturing. A number of critical investments have been made, including in regard to future pandemic preparedness, but more broadly it's all components, from research through to fill and finish of product. We

Health committee  Mr. Chair, as I indicated in my opening remarks, Health Canada has been engaged since the spring, and we've been active since the spring in working with manufacturers, pediatricians, children's hospitals and provinces and territories on identifying the risk and encouraging the in

Health committee  Mr. Chair, we routinely brief the minister and, at instances where we work to further strengthen communication with the public—

Health committee  Mr. Chair, as I said, we routinely brief the minister and make information available to Canadians, both directly through Health Canada as well as through partner organizations, including the Canadian Pediatrician Association, as Dr. Sharma noted.

Health committee  I will turn to Stefania and Linsey Hollett to respond.