Health Canada to allow importation of drugs needed to treat opioid addiction
TORONTO — Provinces and territories are now able to import urgently needed medications that are not available in Canada to treat the growing incidence of opioid dependence under new Health Canada regulations announced Tuesday.
“The new regulatory pathway will enable public health officials to access drugs that aren’t approved in Canada that can be used in public health emergencies, like what we’re seeing in the opioid crisis,” Suzy McDonald, assistant deputy minister of the department’s Opioid Response Team, told a media briefing from Ottawa.
“Our goal is to provide timely and greater access to drugs not available in Canada to help address health crisis situations,” she said. “It enables public health professionals to access drugs that trusted regulators in the United States, the European Union or Switzerland have already reviewed and can be used as safe and effective treatments.”
Health Canada has published an initial list of drugs for import, including injectable Vivitrol and orally dissolving Suboxone — replacement medications for those trying to kick the opioid habit.