Alberta moves closer to donating imported medication to Ukraine as expiry dates loom

Alberta has moved a step closer to donating to Ukraine the province’s unwanted supply of 1.4 million bottles of children’s pain medication imported from Turkey, though the timeline for that to happen remains unclear, with conditions still to be met as the drugs approach their expiration date.

On Thursday, Health Canada told Postmedia it had responded last month to Alberta’s request to donate the product to the war-torn country.

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“Following a thorough review of Alberta’s request, Health Canada issued a letter not objecting to Alberta donating their surplus Turkish-authorized children’s analgesics supply,” its statement reads.

The March 10 letter also requires Alberta to ensure the drugs are only sold or donated for humanitarian purposes outside of Canada, don’t violate Ukrainian laws including import approvals, and that logistics and quality oversight are overseen by a compliant drug establishment licence holder.

The office of Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said in a statement it is still working to finalize details to comply with those conditions and will provide more information, “in the coming weeks.”

In a statement, Health Partners International Canada said it is the only Canadian charity licensed by Health Canada to handle donated medicines, and that while it has had discussions with Alberta Health Services (AHS), no deal has been finalized.

“We have had discussions with AHS regarding a possible donation of ibuprofen and acetaminophen but to date, no agreement has been reached.”

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AHS did not respond to a request for comment.

Last month, Premier Danielle Smith told reporters an unidentified third party had approached the province with the idea of donating the medication to Ukraine.

The imported supply is set to expire as soon as nine months from now, between January and March of 2026, according to internal documents previously obtained by Postmedia.

Atabay contract remains unfulfilled

In late 2022, the province agreed to a $70-million deal to import five million bottles of acetaminophen brand Parol and ibuprofen brand Pedifen amid a Canada-wide shortage at the time.

But, less than a third of the shipment arrived, and much of the medication that did make it to Alberta went unused after the shortage ended. AHS told hospital staff to stop using Parol six months after it arrived in part due to the risk it could clog feeding tubes.

The province had intended to recoup some costs by selling some of its supply to other provinces but abandoned that plan amid unanimous lack of interest, and concern over its dosage, which differs from typical North American acetaminophen, but is more common in Europe.

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Health Canada allowed the 2023 import of the Turkish drugs due to the exceptional circumstances related to the shortage.

With the shortage since ended, the province has been seeking to import Parol IV, an adult pain medication administered intravenously, to fulfil the balance of its contract with Turkish-based Atabay.

Efforts to import Parol IV began in July of 2023, according to Alberta Health, and remain ongoing 21 months later.

It says in January of this year, Atabay was told it would have to resubmit its application to comply with Health Canada requirements. It adds it is currently awaiting a drug identification number from Health Canada which would allow the product to be imported into Canada.

Once that happens, Alberta Health says the medication will be provided over a five-year period until the balance of the contract is used up.

mblack@postmedia.com

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