Few provinces including Quebec are going through an acute shortage of several prescription drugs ranging from medication for treating leukemia to antibiotics and it seems like there is going to be no end any time soon for this shortfall as per the warning of the pharmacists and experts.

There have always been short term shortages of medications, however during the last one year there has been a constant and frequent shortage which has lasted for really long periods.

Penicillin is one such example, being a front-line drug also it is not available any more in the form of a pill in Montreal which has made pharmacists desperately looking for other alternatives.

Despite the fact that some patients have chosen other alternatives for antibiotics when their doctors have filled in a new prescription the sad part is that some of these alternate drugs have more side effects and are much stronger.

Diane Lamarre, president of the Quebec Order of Pharmacists said that there is a need for them to have a national policy for important medications.