Federal officials are under growing scrutiny after $20 million worth of specialty drugs were destroyed at a Public Health Agency of Canada warehouse when a freezer door was left open.
According to testimony at a House of Commons health committee meeting reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, managers were questioned about how supplies in the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile could be lost due to what MPs called a basic oversight failure. Liberal MP Helena Jaczek said the loss was hard to understand, noting that strong alarm systems and daily inspections are normally required to protect expensive medical supplies.
Warehouse security director Stacey Mantha said a full investigation found problems with the agency’s round-the-clock monitoring system and that upgrades have since been made. She also confirmed the agency learned of interest from a foreign national seeking information about warehouse locations, but said no access was given.
Some Conservative MPs questioned whether anyone was held responsible for the loss. Public Health Agency president Nancy Hamzawi said the incident was a one-time event caused by several factors and that an action plan is now in place to prevent it from happening again. The Auditor General is continuing to review the case.
