From National Post · Catherine Lévesque · · 1m 10s
Federal Reserve Overflows with Expired PPE
Canada's federal medical stockpile contains 75% expired PPE by 2027, report finds.
In brief
Canada's federal medical stockpile contains 75% expired PPE by 2027, report finds. PHAC's federal medical stockpile will expire by March 2027, costing taxpayers $6.3m in storage fees. Originally reported by National Post.
PHAC Stockpile Overflow
PHAC has accumulated excess medical inventory since the pandemic, now overflowing with expired PPE.
Auditor General Report
Office of the Auditor General found PHAC did not manage the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile effectively.
PPE Expiry Timeline
75% of PPE inventory (1.044 billion items) will expire by March 31, 2027.
Distribution and Write-offs
PHAC distributed $27m worth of supplies but wrote off $331m due to expiry and damage.
Auditor's Advice
PHAC must create a divestment plan to reduce expired supplies and cut storage costs.
Pharmaceutical Loss
PHAC lost $20.4m in pharmaceuticals due to freezer temperature issues.
Freezer Incident Details
Freezers overfilled in January 2025, causing temperature rise and pharmaceutical spoilage.
Previous Audits
PHAC implemented five of 14 actions from 2024 stockpile management plan.
Health Minister Response
Health Minister says government is overprepared but admits room for improvement.
The headline
PHAC's federal medical stockpile will expire by March 2027, costing taxpayers $6.3m in storage fees.
