Due to the complexity of hospital drug distribution systems, it’s critical for hospitals to receive products from suppliers and their preferred wholesale distributors with adequate dating to ensure that healthcare facilities across the country are able to provide the safest and most efficient care possible for their patients.

With increased calls for hospitals to have more inventory in-house, HealthPRO reminds suppliers that purchase orders must be filled with inventory with the longest possible dating.  Ideally, products shipped will have at least 12-months dating, but we recognize that due to the nature of sterile injectable product production, as well as global supply challenges for many drugs, this is not always possible.

However, products received with a short expiry date increase the workload in hospitals due to the need to constantly retrieve expired products from crash carts, automated dispensing cabinets and patient care areas and increase the risk of expired drugs being administered to patients. Suppliers must ensure that their contracted distribution partners distribute their products with long dating.  Distributors and suppliers shipping products that expire within three months, put suppliers at risk of non-compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the contract.

It’s more important than ever for all drugs and products to be supplied with the longest shelf life possible to not only maintain safe patient care, but also to reduce rework in hospitals and to minimize waste due to short-dated products that go unused.

In the event that a short-dated product in the supply chain cannot be avoided, then patient risk can be mitigated with notification.  The most effective communication is a forced function within the ordering system that alerts the buyer at the time of placing the purchase order. 

Alternate appropriate communication includes a notice to customers, notes on supply reports, and should the short dating lead to a supply gap, reporting on www.drugshortages.ca.  Suppliers are also reminded of the requirement to advise HealthPRO in advance so we can work together on the best outcome.