Alberta government says specially ordered child fever medicine at pharmacies

The Canadian Press

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2 months ago

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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks to members of the media during a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

By Dean Bennett in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says a first shipment of specially ordered children’s pain and fever medication is available in pharmacies.

The government is distributing 250,000 bottles of Parol brand acetaminophen to pharmacies, where it’s available behind the counter.

The medicine was ordered months earlier by Smith’s government from Turkish manufacturer Atabay, but it had to clear regulatory, safety and quarantine rules before it could be made available in Alberta.

The cost to the province is $80 million — about $14 a bottle — and Health Minister Jason Copping says it plans to subsidize the cost of the medicine to keep it competitive with other brands.

The purchase was announced by Smith to help overcome severe shortages in fever relief medicine during the height of the flu season.

The United Conservative Party government says while the shortage has subsided somewhat, it has not gone away and the medicine will help prevent future shortages.

“It has been a painstaking, rigorous process and it has taken longer than we had hoped for, but today I’m pleased to announce that the wait is over,” Smith told reporters Monday.

This is the first of three shipments of Parol for use in pharmacies — about 750,000 bottles.

In January, 250,000 bottles of Parol were delivered for use in hospitals.

The medicine is expected to retail at around $12 and Copping said the government is also looking at selling it to potential buyers.

Opposition NDP critic Rakhi Pancholi said the deal comes too late and at way too high a price.

Pancholi said the shortage crisis has subsided but the province is still on the hook for medicine that must be kept behind the counter because it comes in non-standard doses.

Parol is about 75 per cent the strength of medications normally found in Canadian pharmacies.

“This $80 million debacle shows how incredibly inept Danielle Smith and the UCP are at managing health care,” said Pancholi.

The province is also buying ibuprofen from Atabay, which is manufactured under the brand name Pedifen.

The first shipment of Pedifen has been approved by Health Canada for purchase by Albertans. It arrived in the province last week and is clearing the quarantine process.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2023.

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Alberta

RCMP chopper pilot pulls off amazing helicopter rescue of missing woman west of Innisfail

Published on June 1, 2023

Todayville

News release from Innisfail RCMP

Innisfail RCMP seek public assistance in locating missing elderly female – Update #3

Innisfail, Alta. – RCMP would like to provide additional details and clarify some information with regards the search efforts and the ultimate rescue of Lorraine Vandenbosch who went missing from Dickson Point Campground on May 29, 2023.

Upon locating Lorraine as she emerged from a heavily wooded area, rescue teams had difficulties transporting her due to a steep embankment. Alberta RCMP Air Services were again up to the task in supporting rescue efforts by landing in the difficult location and transporting Lorraine . She was taken for medical assessment and ultimately transported by STARS to hospital. Lorraine remains confused about her ordeal and RCMP have few details at this time.

Background

June 1, 2023

Innisfail RCMP seek public assistance in locating missing elderly female – Update #2

Innisfail, Alta. – RCMP are please to report that after 4 days of searching, Lorraine Vandenbosch has been located by rescue teams alive and in good spirits.

The RCMP helicopter located Lorainne this morning at approximately 9:30 a.m. walking out of a heavily wood area near the Dickson Trout Pond.

Lorainne is receiving precautionary medical attention and is with her family.

RCMP would like to thank the tireless effort of all involved in this search: Red Deer County SAR, Rocky Mountain House SAR, Sundre SAR, Wetaskiwin SAR, Red Deer County Patrol, Innisfail Fire Dept, Red Deer County Fire Dept, Spruceview Fire Dept, Alberta Conservation Officers, Raven Crime Watch and Mounted Horse volunteers.

RCMP would also like to thank the organizations that provided food to the teams, Spruceview Bakery and Red Deer Costco. This support allowed the rescue teams to continue working long hours.

Background

Innisfail RCMP seek public assistance in locating missing elderly female – Update

Innisfail, Alta. – Innisfail RCMP continue to search for Lorraine Vadenbosch who went missing from the Dickson Point Campground at Glennifer Lake yesterday. RCMP with assistance from Red Deer County, Sundre, and Rocky Mountain House Search and Rescue teams are actively searching the area.

While search teams continue to search, we are asking residents in the Glennifer Lake, Dickson, Spruce View, and nearby areas, to check your properties including treed outcroppings and outbuildings for Lorraine.

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Lorraine, please contact the Innisfail RCMP Detachment at 403-227-3342. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

May 29, 2023

Innisfail RCMP seek public assistance in locating missing elderly female

Innisfail. Alta. – Innisfail RCMP are seeking public assistance in locating a missing elderly female. Lorraine Vandenbosch (78), a resident of Didsbury, was last seen on May 29, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at the Dickson Point Campground at Gleniffer Lake. Lorraine may be confused and there is great concern for her safety.

Lorraine is described as:

5 feet tall
Red hair
Light complexion
Last seen wearing white pants, white and black shirt, black runners and a cream colored hat

Alberta

Cannabis price ‘race to the bottom’ hurts market’s future: OCS CEO

Published on June 1, 2023

The Canadian Press

TORONTO — The head of Ontario’s cannabis distributor says the “race to the bottom” happening with pot prices risks hurting the market’s future.

Ontario Cannabis Store chief executive David Lobo says when consumers get used to paying lower prices, it can take a generation to change their perception and convince people to pay more again.

In an economy where inflation is stubbornly high and raising the costs of most consumer goods, he says the industry can’t keep pushing lower.

Lobo says the OCS is doing its part in fighting the race to the bottom with a forthcoming plan to lower its margins, which he estimates could hand $60 million to licensed pot producers next year.

Since recreational cannabis was legalized in 2018, pot producers have been dropping prices to fight the illicit market, where weed is much cheaper and sellers operate outside restrictions imposed on the legal market.

Statistics Canada said a gram of legal cannabis cost $10.29 on average in 2019, whereas the OCS had some dried flower products selling for under $4 this week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2023.

The Canadian Press