Shortages of Palliative Care Medications in Canada during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Gambling with Suffering.

Pereira, Jose; Arya, Amit; Downar, James; Rice, Patty; MacDonald, Susan; Osborne, Ed; Kanji, Salmaan; Sauls, Robert

Pereira, Jose; Arya, Amit; Downar, James; Rice, Patty; MacDonald, Susan; Osborne, Ed; Kanji, Salmaan; Sauls, Robert.

Affiliation

Pereira J; A professor at and the director of the Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University in Hamilton, ON, and a scientific officer at Pallium Canada, Ottawa, ON. He is a palliative care physician, an educator and a researcher who has a special interest in spreading the
Arya A; An assistant clinical professor at the Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University in Hamilton, ON, and a lecturer at the Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, in Toronto, ON. He is a palliative care physi
Downar J; An associate professor at the Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa in Ottawa, ON, and a physician at The Ottawa Hospital and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, ON. He is a critical care and palliative care physician and the head of the Division of Palliative Care at the Univer
Rice P; A community pharmacist in Bowmanville, ON. She has served on the local palliative care team for several years and has a special interest in being able to collaborate with other healthcare providers to support patients through their palliative care journey.
MacDonald S; An associate professor at Memorial University in St John's, NL. She is a palliative care physician, an educator and an advocate. Her focus is primarily on encouraging students, clinicians and the public to understand how palliative care helps patients live better. She has held regional, provincial a
Osborne E; A palliative care physician and family physician in the Regional Palliative Care Network in the Oshawa and Durham Region, ON, and at Lakeridge Health, Oshawa, ON. He provides care in multiple settings, including the community, hospital and long-term care, and has a regional palliative care leadershi
Kanji S; A pharmacist at The Ottawa Hospital and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, ON. He is a clinical pharmacy specialist and an associate scientist with research interests in pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety. He has developed local and provincial guidelines for conservation strategies
Sauls R; A physician in Mississauga, ON, and was previously associated with the Ontario Palliative Care Network, Ontario Health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he represented the Ontario Palliative Care Network in working with the Ontario Ministry of Health to develop the province's approach to managing the p

Healthc Q ; 23(4): 17-22, 2021 Jan.

Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33475487

ABSTRACT

Patients with serious illnesses such as cancer, advanced organ failure, dementia and COVID-19 rely on medications to alleviate suffering from uncontrolled symptoms. Numerous actual or threatened shortages of key medications used to provide palliation have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article explores the nature of these shortages, factors that have contributed to them and strategies to mitigate them. It calls on all levels of the healthcare system and the government to address this problem. Shortages in these medications are as serious as shortages in medications used to cure or control diseases.

Subject(s)

COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Palliative Care; Pharmaceutical Preparations/supply & distribution; Canada; Humans

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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Palliative Care / Pharmaceutical Preparations / COVID-19 Drug Treatment Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: America do norte Language: En Journal: Healthc Q Journal subject: HOSPITAIS / SERVICOS DE SAUDE Year: 2021 Type: Article

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