The British Columbia Health Ministry is expressing concerns over the transportation of materials crucial for diagnostic testing and cancer treatments, with a significant portion of these shipments being handled by Air Canada.
According to the ministry, Air Canada is responsible for transporting a substantial amount of radiopharmaceuticals and isotopes, which are essential components for medical procedures. However, radioisotopes have a short half-life, causing them to lose their effectiveness quickly.
The looming threat of a strike by Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is adding to the complexity of the situation. Air Canada has issued warnings about potential flight cancellations, with up to 500 flights expected to be affected if the strike occurs as scheduled.
While passengers have options to adjust their travel plans and seek compensation, the challenge lies in finding alternative means to transport critical medical supplies and radiopharmaceuticals if Air Canada services are disrupted.
In response to these concerns, the Ministry of Health stated that they are collaborating with suppliers to assess the potential impact. So far, two out of three suppliers have identified alternative carriers to ensure the continued delivery of essential medical supplies.
It has been confirmed that Air Canada has temporarily suspended bookings for new medical shipments, raising further uncertainties about the continuity of medical transport services.
Despite the uncertainties, Mahesh Nagarajan, a professor specializing in operations and logistics at the University of British Columbia, reassured that healthcare authorities typically have contingency plans in place to address disruptions in the supply chain.
BC Cancer has not provided specific comments on the potential impact on radiopharmaceuticals and isotopes but mentioned that its pharmacy division primarily receives medications via ground transport, minimizing reliance on air shipments.
The Ministry of Health also assured that there are no foreseen disruptions in the delivery of temperature-controlled vaccines, primarily transported by ground. The ministry highlighted that the minimal air shipments of vaccines are managed by other carriers to mitigate any potential issues.