How to Check if a Drug Is in Shortage in Canada
Quick answer
The fastest way to check is to search the drug's brand name or DIN (Drug Identification Number) below — it pulls directly from Health Canada's shortage reports and shows the current status, tier, and estimated resolution date in seconds.
Search by drug name or DIN
Every shortage or discontinuation report Health Canada publishes is tied to a specific product — searching by brand name (like Ozempic) or by DIN, the 8-digit Drug Identification Number printed on the label, is the most reliable way to find the right one. Try it below.
Understand what the status label means
Health Canada's reports use a few specific status labels. Each one means something different for what you should expect:
- Active Shortage — the shortage is confirmed and currently happening. Supply is constrained somewhere in the distribution chain right now.
- Anticipated Shortage — the manufacturer expects a shortage but it hasn't started yet. This is an early warning, not confirmation that stock is already affected.
- Resolved — the manufacturer has reported the shortage as over. Some individual pharmacies may still take a little time to restock.
- Permanently Discontinued — the product has been permanently withdrawn from the Canadian market and will not return.
Check the tier for severity
Shortages are also classified by tier. Tier 3 — Critical shortages are the most severe — Health Canada reserves this label for shortages with the highest potential impact on patients and the health care system. Tier 1 and Tier 2 shortages, and unrated reports, are generally lower-impact or more easily substituted.
Remember this is national data, not your specific pharmacy
A shortage report reflects the manufacturer's national supply, not any single pharmacy's shelf. Some locations may still have stock even during a confirmed national shortage, especially for a particular strength or pack size. Treat a shortage result as a reason to call ahead or ask your pharmacist, not as confirmation that every pharmacy is out. Curious why the shortage list is so long in the first place? See how often drug shortages are reported in Canada.
Know what to do next
If your search turns up an active or anticipated shortage for a medication you take, the next step isn't to panic — it's to talk to your pharmacist about your options. See What to Do When Your Medication Is in Shortage in Canada for a full walkthrough.
Related Guides
What to Do When Your Medication Is in Shortage in Canada
A step-by-step guide for Canadian patients: how to check if a shortage is still active, what an estimated resolution date means, and when to talk to your pharmacist.
Drug Shortage vs Discontinued: What's the Difference?
The difference between a temporary drug shortage and a permanent discontinuation in Canada — and why it changes what you should do next.
What Does a Tier 3 Drug Shortage Mean in Canada?
Tier 3 is Health Canada's most serious shortage rating, reserved for drugs with no easy alternative and high patient risk — here's what that means if your medication is rated Tier 3.
How Often Are Drug Shortages Reported in Canada?
Why Canada's drug shortage list has so many active reports at any given time, what that number actually means, and how to keep track without checking constantly.
Latest Canadian Shortage Updates
Sources
Guide last reviewed August 13, 2026. MedShort.ca is an independent tracking tool and does not provide medical advice.