Every medication change carries potential risks. Even small differences in packaging, labelling, preparation instructions, or product appearance can contribute to medication errors if they aren't identified before a new product reaches frontline care. 

HealthPRO Canada's Post Award Assessment Service (PAAS) provides members with advance notice of product changes before implementation, helping healthcare teams identify differences between newly awarded products and previous versions. Originally developed to support pharmaceutical contract transitions, PAAS now also includes product comparison documents for drug shortages. 

How PAAS Supports Safe Medication Transitions 

Whether members are implementing a new pharmaceutical contract or introducing a substitute product during a drug shortage, recognizing product differences is essential to patient safety. 

Through PAAS, HealthPRO Canada’s Pharmacy and Product Quality teams compare pharmaceutical products and identify differences that may affect medication administration or patient care. Depending on the type of transition, members receive either customizable Medication Change Memos for contract changes or standardized product comparison documents for drug shortages. These resources may include side-by-side product images and information about differences in packaging, labelling, safety features, reconstitution instructions, stability data, and significant non-medicinal ingredients, as well as links to supporting product information. Contract packages also include a summary spreadsheet that consolidates the Medication Change Memos and supports communication with frontline teams. 

Success with recent shortage of essential chemotherapy medication 

In 2023, HealthPRO Canada expanded PAAS to apply this detailed product comparison approach to drug shortages. This expansion proved especially valuable during the recent global shortage of ifosfamide, an essential chemotherapy medication. HealthPRO Canada’s Product Quality Team compared the contracted product with a foreign-labelled alternative and identified key differences to support its safe introduction into Canadian hospitals. At the same time, the Drug Shortage Team provided timely updates and mitigation strategies to help members maintain continuity of care. 

By giving members clear, practical information before a product is introduced, PAAS supports frontline education, safer implementation, and a reduced risk of medication errors during medication transitions. 

Why PAAS Matters 

PAAS is a core component of HealthPRO Canada's pharmacy contracting process and an important resource for healthcare organizations managing medication changes. 

Whether supporting a newly contracted product or a substitute medication during a drug shortage, PAAS provides clear product comparison information that helps organizations identify and communicate important differences between medications. By helping frontline teams recognize these differences before implementation, PAAS reduces risk, supports continuity of care, and ultimately helps improve patient safety across Canada's healthcare system.