The Ontario Ministry of Health says it鈥檚 working with manufacturers of medical masks to address shortage concerns expressed by dentists in light of the new coronavirus outbreak, according to a memo sent to the provincial regulator.
In the note sent to the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario last week, the ministry said it鈥檚 aware some orders of personal protective equipment, which dentists need to wear during any routine dental procedure, are backlogged, but added it was 鈥渇ollowing up to make sure critical shortages are addressed.鈥�
The ministry said Thursday in a statement that it is working with the health sector and has 鈥渄eveloped systems to identify organizations who are having challenges getting the supplies they need, and have processes in place to ensure that providers are able care for their patients safely now and in the future.鈥�
Fear surrounding a new type of coronavirus dubbed COVID-19 that鈥檚 rapidly spreading in China has prompted a rush from the public to stockpile the protective gear, despite advice from Canadian health authorities that they are not effective for healthy people.
鈥淭here are a lot of people wearing masks who don鈥檛 need to wear masks,鈥� federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said in a press conference earlier this week, adding the government was tracking the situation.
鈥淐anada does have a stockpile (of masks) for domestic use and we have enough supply as we understand the outbreak right now,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are some rumblings around a supply chain shortage and we鈥檙e monitoring that very carefully.鈥�
The Canadian Dental Association has contacted distributors of masks, gloves and other protective equipment because of concerns raised by dentists across the country, said Aaron Burry, its associate director of professional affairs.
He said suppliers are being 鈥渃autious鈥� and 鈥減utting measures in place鈥� to control the availability of these products and to prevent stockpiling.
鈥淣o one can predict where things may go but to our understanding the supply is sufficient for the next few months,鈥� said Burry.
But he acknowledged he has heard about some supply problems and says he has been told that boxes of masks have been stolen from dental waiting rooms.
Karen Fung-Harris, a dentist and co-owner of two practices in Ottawa, said she has had to change suppliers and her costs have gone up.
鈥淥ur biggest worry as dentists is that we can鈥檛 practice without (masks)鈥nd we know there is a shortage.鈥�
Fung-Harris says that her usual supplier is out of masks and that although she can still buy small quantities from other suppliers, the price has jumped. She says she normally pays $7 to $9 for a box of 50 masks but because of the shortage she is now ordering different brands, in smaller quantities, from a variety of suppliers and is having to pay $16 to $18 per box.
READ MORE:
At her offices, staff use between 75 to 125 masks a day, so the change in cost is not trivial, but her main concern is supply.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 know when we鈥檙e going to run out and not be able to stock them again,鈥� she said.
The Canadian Press
Like us on and follow us on
