You Can Make a Difference: Help Prevent Medication Shortages

SafeMedicationUse.ca has heard from several consumers who are concerned about not being able to get more than a 30-day supply of their medications. Understandably, this limit on medications during the pandemic is causing people to worry. It’s important to know that this change is not happening because of a medication shortage. It is in place to prevent one.

Many provinces and territories are coordinating efforts to ensure there will be enough medication for everyone. To do this, they’ve asked pharmacies to limit the amount of medication given out for each prescription to 30 days. Limiting the amount of medication on every prescription to a 30-day supply helps to manage the medication supply over the longer term.

• Understand that we are #InThisTogether to make sure there is enough medication for everyone. Work with your doctor, dentist, nurse practitioner, or other prescriber to have enough medication to last 30 days. If you have special circumstances that require you to have more than 30 days of medication on hand, let your prescriber know. Ask the prescriber to include the reason on your prescription.
• Keep an eye on your medication supply. When you have about 7 to 10 days’ supply left, ask your pharmacy for a refill.
• Consider the amount of nonprescription medications that you might need in the next 30 days when buying these products.

This newsletter was developed in collaboration with patients and families.

Learning from consumer reports is shared with health care providers through ISMP Canada publications.