September 30, 2014
Manitoba Health Minister to Lead Discussion Preventing Supply Shortages of Medical Isotopes
– – –Addressing Shortage Criticial to Protecting Front-line Service for Manitoba Families: Minister Selby
BANFF, Alta.—Manitoba Health Minister Erin Selby will lead a discussion here among provincial and territorial health ministers on the future of medical isotopes in Canada, which are used for vital patient services like cardiac imaging, scans of organs, bones and the circulatory system, and to assist in the identification of breast, head and neck cancers.
“As we know, shortages of medical isotopes mean critical diagnostic tests for patients could face delays. Patients and families are right to expect governments to work together to make sure the supply of medical isotopes proceeds uninterrupted,” said Minister Selby.
The National Universal Reactor at Chalk River is scheduled to cease production of medical isotopes in October 2016. Chalk River produces much of Canada’s medical isotope supply. While Manitoba relies on a diversified supply of isotopes, which includes sites from outside of Canada, the province recognizes the importance of working together with federal, provincial and territorial counterparts to ensure patients across the country have uninterrupted access to medical isotopes, the minister said.
Minister Selby noted innovative research is being undertaken in Manitoba to find alternate ways to produce medical isotopes. The Prairie Isotope Production Enterprise (PIPE) is exploring the use of a linear accelerator to produce a local supply of medical isotopes. PIPE is one of the only research projects of its kind in Canada.
The minister also noted past isotope supply disruptions led to strong federal, provincial and territorial collaboration, especially around ways to enable rapid information sharing between governments, industry and frontline professionals. She added governments worked together to develop streamlined approval processes to allow for isotopes to be sourced from new sites outside Canada. While past lessons continue to offer valuable insight for all governments, governments must renew their efforts to make sure patients have access to medical isotopes, the minister said.
“We cannot let isotope supply shortages become the new normal,” said Minister Selby. “When faced with isotope shortages in the past, governments worked together for the sake of patients and I’m committed to redoubling those efforts.”
Minister Selby intends to discuss a range of proposals with her colleagues including:
- working with the federal government in securing alternate international sources of medical isotopes;
- exploring approaches to expedite new isotope supply sources in ways that are safe and effective for patients;
- looking at other regulatory approaches to medical isotopes, such as those of the Food and Drug Administration, with a view toward finding safe ways to reduce regulatory burdens between Canada and the United States; and
- continuing access to emergency measures for alternate reactor-based isotope shortages.
These discussions will occur at the annual meeting of health ministers, which this year takes place in Banff, Alta., and runs today and tomorrow. In addition to discussing ways to protect the medical isotope supply, Minister Selby will also discuss national co-operation on Alzheimer’s and dementia, the continuation of provincial initiatives to reduce the cost of generic drugs, as well as Manitoba’s preparedness and response to Ebola.
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