Health

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Health studied the management and security of the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile (NESS), focusing on a $20-million loss of product due to a temperature deviation. Appearing were Nancy Hamzawi, President of the Public Health Agency of Canada; Stacey Mantha, Director General of Regional Operations and Emergency Management; and Stephen Bent, Vice-President of Regulatory, Operations and Emergency Management.

Nancy Hamzawi explained that the agency divests surplus or expired medical countermeasures through transfer, sale, donation, or disposal, and that the $20-million loss was a one-time incident caused by multiple system failures, not individual negligence. She stated that the agency has implemented most of an action plan from its investigation, including enhanced temperature monitoring and oversight, and confirmed that the stockpile has been fully restocked and that Canada is better prepared than before the pandemic, with annual investments rising from $5 million to $220 million. She noted that the Auditor General is conducting an audit and that the agency is open to further recommendations.

Stacey Mantha detailed that the root cause was a system error in the quality management system, with contributing factors including communication gaps between teams and failure to follow all equipment specifications. She confirmed that the agency has a non-punitive reporting culture, has increased oversight and personnel at warehouses, and is exploring vendor-managed inventory models to rotate stock before expiry. She also acknowledged that a foreign national expressed interest in accessing a warehouse location but did not gain access, and she committed to reporting the country of origin to the committee.

Stephen Bent clarified that the freezer units have industrial locking mechanisms and that the agency collaborates with provinces and territories through the Public Health Network to clarify roles in emergency planning. He noted that the Canadian pandemic preparedness plan is being finalized to set clear responsibilities for future health emergencies.

The committee also discussed expired PPE valued at approximately $150 million, with Stacey Mantha noting that volumes of expired stock have significantly decreased and that the agency is actively divesting through transfers and sales. On procurement, she stated that price, quality, and supply diversity are key factors, and that the agency works with Public Services and Procurement Canada to ensure value for money.