Canada

Health Canada says more than $20-million worth of pharmaceutical products were lost from the national stockpile this year because of a temperature-control issue, spurring a call from the federal Conservative health critic for a House of Commons investigation.

The department confirmed the incident on Thursday after figures were identified in the public accounts, an annual financial report on government revenues and spending, and reported by The Canadian Press.

In response, Health Canada said in a statement that there were two specific losses documented.

The first involved damage to lab equipment that resulted in its loss, totalling around $1.2-million.

The second involved the loss of pharmaceutical products, such as vaccines, held in the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile. A “temperature deviation” resulted in the loss of product, totalling more than $20-million, the department said.

Health Canada said the losses will not affect the capacity of the stockpile to respond to public health events. It also said the Public Health Agency of Canada could not disclose details on assets held by the stockpile, including types and volumes, because of national security implications.