Health Canada

Health Canada is expediting access to supplies of hand sanitizers, disinfectants, personal protective equipments and swabs to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

Ventilators are an important piece of medical equipment in the fight against COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Health care professionals use ventilators to give respiratory help to patients who need it.

The Special Access Programme (SAP) provides access to nonmarketed drugs for practitioners treating patients with serious or life-threatening conditions when conventional therapies have failed, are unsuitable, or unavailable. The SAP authorizes a manufacturer to sell a drug that cannot otherwise...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Canada is working closely with domestic and international partners to anticipate and meet Canadians' health product needs. International collaboration ensures that our policies and regulatory approaches are aligned and that health products are effective and...

The health and safety of Canadians is our priority. Along with measures reported in the Government of Canada's response to COVID-19, Health Canada is also implementing interim measures to expedite access to hand sanitizers, disinfectants and personal protective equipment to address product shortages

Tier 3 shortages are those that have the greatest potential impact on Canada's drug supply and health care system. Impact is based on low availability of alternative supplies, ingredients or therapies.

It is now mandatory for manufacturers and importers to report shortages of medical devices related to COVID-19 to Health Canada.

List of medical device shortages related to COVID-19.

List of specified medical devices related to COVID-19.

A medical device shortage occurs when a manufacturer is unable to meet Canadian market demand for the device or for its components, accessories, parts or consumable materials. It does not include a situation in which a substitute device, component, accessory, or part is available.

Medical devices included on this list are called "designated medical devices" and are eligible for the exceptional importation and sale provisions provided for in the Interim Order.

There is an unprecedented demand and urgent need for access to medical devices during the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 30, 2020, the Minister of Health signed the Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in relation to COVID-19. The interim order (IO)...

For the purpose of expanding the list of "designated drugs", the Industry must propose an addition to the list of designated drugs.

There is an unprecedented demand and urgent need for access to drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 30, 2020, the Minister of Health signed the Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in relation to COVID-19. The interim order (IO) allows...

Health Canada is requesting sponsor participation in the Regulatory Enrolment Process (REP) non-functional pilot for clinical trial regulatory activities. REP is a method Health Canada uses to collect information from sponsors related to their company, dossiers, products, regulatory activities...

Immediate action is required to deal with a significant risk, direct or indirect, to health, safety or the environment. Therefore, the Minister of Health, pursuant to subsection 30.1(1)Footnote1 of the Food and Drugs ActFootnote2, makes this Interim Order: Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical...

It provides information on how to report a marketing complaint.

The health and safety of all Canadians is Health Canada's top priority and we are taking urgent measures to protect consumers from illegal, false or misleading advertising of products claiming to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure COVID-19. These practices are deemed non-compliant with...

COVID-19 is a global public health challenge that has changed the daily lives of people around the world. During these difficult times, it is critical that Canadians be able to obtain credible information and access services to support their mental health and wellbeing.

In response to the increasing demand for hand sanitizers in Canada during the current COVID-19 pandemic, Health Canada has implemented an interim expedited licensing approach to help businesses obtain the required authorizations to produce and distribute hand sanitizer.