Canada’s Insulin Crisis: Why Drug Security Must Become a National Health Priority

Canada is the birthplace of insulin — one of the most important medical discoveries in human history. Yet despite this extraordinary legacy, Canada now relies entirely on foreign manufacturers for insulin production. Not a single vial of insulin is currently manufactured domestically.

For the millions of Canadians living with diabetes, that reality represents more than a supply-chain concern. It is a serious public health vulnerability.

Recent warnings from diabetes advocates, healthcare leaders, and policymakers have highlighted the growing risks associated with Canada’s dependence on international pharmaceutical manufacturing. From insulin shortages to disruptions in emergency glucagon supply, the issue is increasingly being recognized not merely as a healthcare access problem, but as a matter of national security.

At Centrum Pharmacy, we believe Canadians deserve reliable, secure, and uninterrupted access to life-saving medications — and pharmacists have an essential role in helping patients navigate supply disruptions, medication transitions, and chronic disease management during times of uncertainty.

The Fragility of Canada’s Medication Supply Chain

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed how vulnerable global medical supply chains can become during international crises. Canadians witnessed shortages affecting everything from personal protective equipment to antibiotics and children’s medications.

Diabetes therapies are now facing similar concerns.

In 2024, Canada experienced a critical shortage of injectable glucagon, an emergency medication used to treat severe hypoglycemia. Emergency imports from the United States became necessary to stabilize supply. More recently, some Canadians living with Type 1 diabetes nearly lost access to animal insulin products that remain medically necessary for a small but important patient population.

These incidents underscore a difficult reality:

When Canada depends entirely on foreign pharmaceutical production, decisions made outside our borders can directly affect Canadian patients.

Global manufacturing interruptions, geopolitical tensions, export restrictions, tariffs, transportation disruptions, or competing international demand can all rapidly affect medication availability in Canadian pharmacies.

For patients dependent on insulin or other essential chronic disease therapies, even short-term disruptions can create serious health risks.

Why Insulin Access Is a National Security Issue

Traditionally, national security discussions focus on defence, energy, or infrastructure. Increasingly, however, healthcare experts are recognizing pharmaceutical manufacturing as a strategic national asset.

Without domestic production capacity, Canada has limited ability to:

• Prioritize Canadian patients during global shortages 
• Stabilize pricing and procurement 
• Protect supply against foreign export pressures 
• Build emergency medication reserves 
• Ensure long-term access to essential therapies 

This concern becomes even more significant as international competition for lower-cost medications intensifies. Some U.S. state importation programs have explored sourcing medications from Canada, increasing pressure on already fragile supply channels.

Healthcare resilience depends not only on having excellent clinicians and hospitals — but also on ensuring medications remain consistently available when patients need them most.

The Critical Role of Pharmacists During Drug Shortages

Drug shortages are not abstract policy discussions inside pharmacies. Pharmacists encounter their impact every day.

At Centrum Pharmacy, pharmacists routinely help patients navigate:

• Temporary medication shortages 
• Alternative insulin or diabetes therapy options 
• Insurance and formulary barriers 
• Device substitutions 
• Emergency continuity-of-care situations 
• Dose conversion and safety counselling 
• Monitoring for adverse effects during medication changes 

When shortages occur, pharmacists become frontline medication access coordinators — working closely with physicians, diabetes educators, manufacturers, and patients to minimize interruptions in therapy.

This is particularly important for patients with diabetes, where abrupt medication changes can significantly affect blood glucose control and overall health outcomes.

Pharmacist-led counselling helps patients understand:

• How to safely transition between products if necessary 
• When to monitor blood sugars more closely 
• Signs of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia 
• Proper insulin storage during supply disruptions 
• Emergency planning strategies 
• Medication adherence considerations 

Strong pharmacist involvement improves safety, continuity, and patient confidence during uncertain situations.

Building Pharmaceutical Sovereignty in Canada

Experts and advocacy organizations are increasingly calling for Canada to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity for essential medications such as:

• Insulin 
• Glucagon 
• Critical injectable therapies 
• Antibiotics 
• Vaccines 
• Emergency medications 

Potential strategies include:

1. Domestic Manufacturing Investment

Federal and provincial investment in Canadian pharmaceutical production facilities could improve supply resilience and reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers.

2. Strategic Medication Reserves

Creating national stockpiles of critical medications may help buffer temporary supply disruptions during emergencies.

3. Public-Private Partnerships

Government partnerships with pharmaceutical companies could encourage stable domestic production and long-term procurement planning.

4. Coordinated National Procurement

Better coordination between provinces and federal agencies may improve purchasing power, forecasting, and supply-chain management.

5. Stronger Supply Protection Measures

Safeguards may be needed to protect Canadian medication supplies during periods of increased international demand.

Diabetes Care Requires Long-Term Stability

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that requires uninterrupted access to medications, devices, education, and healthcare support.

Even brief therapy interruptions can increase the risk of:

• Severe hypoglycemia 
• Diabetic ketoacidosis 
• Hospitalization 
• Cardiovascular complications 
• Long-term organ damage 

Medication security is therefore inseparable from quality diabetes care.

At Centrum Pharmacy, our pharmacists work closely with patients to provide Complete, Comprehensive, Caring, and Connected Care — the “4 C’s” that guide our patient-centered approach to chronic disease management.

That includes:

• Medication reviews 
• Diabetes counselling 
• Injection technique education 
• Blood glucose monitoring support 
• Medication synchronization 
• Minor ailment assessments where appropriate 
• Coordination with physicians and specialists 
• Long-term medication planning 

As Canada continues discussions around pharmacare and pharmaceutical sovereignty, pharmacists must remain central participants in healthcare planning and medication access strategies.

Preparing for the Future

Canada gave insulin to the world. Ensuring Canadians maintain reliable access to insulin and other life-saving medications should remain a national priority.

Strengthening domestic pharmaceutical resilience will require collaboration between governments, healthcare providers, manufacturers, advocacy organizations, and pharmacists.

Patients should not have to worry whether essential medications will remain available during the next international crisis or supply disruption.

Centrum Pharmacy supports policies that strengthen medication access, improve healthcare resilience, and ensure Canadians receive safe, continuous, pharmacist-supported care when they need it most.

Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer: The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Please do not initiate, modify, or discontinue any treatment, medication, or supplement solely based on this information. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider first. Full Disclaimer.