Certain provinces in Canada are bearing the brunt of a medical supply shortage that could affect the administration of epidurals for women giving birth.
Due to material shortages and manufacturing delays, vendors of epidural catheter kits are experiencing shortages across North America, notably in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
According to Health Canada, manufacturers have advised Health Canada that manufacturing disruptions caused by supply chain challenges are contributing to supply constraints.
At BC Women’s Hospital, B.C.’s busiest birthing centre, the shortage is recognized but luckily has not impacted any procedures. Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) says that there is stock on hand for several months but that shipments coming in are limited.
Dr. Katherine Seligman, vice-president of the British Columbia Anesthesiologists' Society, says that BC Women’s Hospital was proactive when fears of the shortage were brewing.
“The epidural shortage is a very real, concerning, and ongoing supply shortage that will continue to affect hospitals and patients in Canada for the next several months,” she said.
Health Canada says that the shortage can be traced back to issues with multiple manufacturers.
“One manufacturer, Smiths Medical, has indicated it expects its supply to resume to normal levels by the end of August (Aug. 26) while another, Teleflex, has reported an estimated shortage end date of Dec. 30, 2022,” they said in a statement to Glacier Media.
Current strategies to ensure that no health-care facility runs out of supplies include access to additional supply via the Exceptional Importation and Sale pathway and the Special Access Program (SAP).
The Exceptional Importation and Sale pathway will utilize the sale of devices that do not fully meet the Canadian regulatory standard but that are manufactured to comply with standards in countries with similar regulatory requirements to Canada.
On the other hand, the SAP may provide emergency access to unlicensed medical devices for emergency use or “if conventional therapies have failed, are unavailable or are unsuitable.”
Seligman also notes that there are other forms of pain management that expecting mothers can use including nitrous oxide, and IV pain medications, though they may not be as effective.
“We are deeply committed to maintaining a high standard of care for all our patients and that obviously is jeopardized if we have a shortage of critical medical supplies,” she said.
