The toilet paper drought was one thing … drugs are another

If we thought the toilet paper shortage was a crisis, we definitely don’t want to experience a shortage of drugs. That’s why Canada’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Act included a clause that didn’t get a lot of fanfare, but is intended to prevent medication scarcity. Any number of things may cause a drug shortage, including supply chain issues, massive demand during a pandemic or even hoarding and stockpiling. Let’s not forget the number of people who stockpiled hand sanitizer in a frenzied panic. Imagine the demand for an effective drug to treat COVID-19.

Today in The Conversation Canada, Dr. Joel Lexchin of the University of Toronto explains why the act included compulsory drug licensing — which enables the government to license generic companies to produce drugs that are still under patent — and how it will help prevent and address drug shortages.

Also today:

Regards,

Patricia Nicholson

Health + Medicine Editor

Today's Featured Articles
The COVID-19 Emergency Response Act enables compulsory drug licensing to help avoid medication shortages. (Pixabay)

Canada’s coronavirus aid package guards against drug shortages with compulsory licensing

Joel Lexchin, University of Toronto

Toilet paper shortages were bad enough. A shortage of drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic would be worse. A provision in the Canadian government's relief package aims to prevent that from happening.
Businesses need to take instant action to prevent cash-flow insolvencies in the midst of COVID-19. (Annie Spratt/Unsplash)

Flattening another coronavirus curve: The cash-flow gap

Matthäus Tekathen, Concordia University

Faced by a sales dip, business owners run quickly into a cash crisis. What can be done?
Jessica Peresta, a working parent in Lowell, Ark., is now homeschooling her small children while running her business. (Jessica Peresta/Instagram)

Working parents dealing with coronavirus quarantines will face psychological challenges

Marisa Young, McMaster University

During this outbreak, parents are suffering. They are dealing with one of the most consequential impacts on psychological health amongst the modern-day workforce: work-family conflict.
An extended pause by the biggest publishers could spur comic creators to pursue new projects and accelerate a shift away from comic book stores. Here, the cover of Batman Giant #4, which was expected in stores this April 1, 2020. (DC Comics)

Comics vs. coronavirus: Comics industry shut down for the first time in almost a century

Bart Beaty, University of Calgary

Neither the Second World War nor 9/11 stopped weekly comic book distribution to comic stores. But COVID-19 means production and distribution is now on hold, and the future of comics is up in the air.
Conservation is as much about the critical role of communities as custodians of biodiversity as it is about creating people-free zones. (Quang Nguyen Vinh/Pexels)

Why communities must be at the heart of conserving wildlife, plants and ecosystems

Derek Armitage, University of Waterloo; Ella-Kari Muhl, University of Waterloo; Merle Sowman, University of Cape Town; Philile Mbatha, University of Cape Town; Wayne Stanley Rice, University of Cape Town

With the 2020 deadline for conserving biodiversity almost past, communities must now play a larger role in conservation.
Using apps like Boomy and Voisey, aspiring pop artists can now use their phones to record and distribute their music — no talent required. (Shutterstock)

No musical talent, no problem — there are now apps for that

Marina Eckersley, University of Toronto

Aspiring singers can now use apps to record professional-sounding songs from their phones. This has the potential to disrupt the recording and publishing industry.

La Conversation Canada
Un arrêt de plusieurs semaines pourrait avoir un impact dévastateur sur la motivation et l'apprentissage des élèves vulnérables. shutterstock

Covid-19: quatre actions à prendre dès maintenant pour protéger les enfants vulnérables

Delphine Collin-Vézina, McGill University; Tristan Milot, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR)

Bien que la décision de fermer les écoles s’appuie sur des politiques de santé publique incontestables, il faut que le réseau de l'éducation puisse continuer d'accompagner les familles vulnérables.

COVID-19