Alberta children’s meds ordered 3 months ago to be stockpiled: health minister
Posted March 9, 2023 1:06 pm.
Last Updated March 11, 2023 10:27 am.
The first shipment of kids’ pain medication from Turkey ordered by the province has arrived in Alberta.
READ MORE: Alberta receives shipment of kids’ pain meds for pharmacies 3 months after order was placed
The federal Health Ministry confirmed 270,000 bottles landed here last Friday.
Alberta Health Services has not responded to questions about how they plan to distribute that supply.
However, Health Minister Jason Copping did confirm the total cost to import the five million bottles of Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen.
“70 million is the cost of medication, while 10 million is the cost of shipping, waste disposal and other administrative costs,” said Copping.
Copping says that works out to $14 per bottle in addition to shipping, adding that the average bottle of children’s pain meds retails for $7.
The medication was ordered three months ago at the height of an unprecedented flu season that left shelves mostly barren.
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That surge of demand has since passed.
However, Copping says the supply will be stockpiled to avoid a similar situation next season.
He also expects to recuperate some costs in selling the products to pharmacies, although the government will provide a subsidy to ensure Albertans aren’t paying a premium.
Additionally, he says other provinces have asked to share in the supply.
“On the total of the five million, we will be working with other jurisdictions to provide it to them at cost so there will be other revenue coming in.”
