Procurement of medical gowns: Committee of the Whole—July 8, 2020
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Context
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has been working aggressively with domestic and international suppliers to procure medical gowns. These gowns are worn by medical professionals as personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to provide a barrier between the patient and the professional.
Suggested response
- We remain steadfast in our efforts to get safe and effective supplies of gowns to provinces and territories as quickly as possible
- Medical gowns are subject to stringent quality controls, including testing by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
If pressed on material shortages:
- the Government of Canada is purchasing supplies from a number of sources and countries, both internationally and domestically
- the global demand for medical gowns is high and there is a worldwide shortage in disposable gown material
- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has identified Canadian textile manufacturers for the domestic supply of disposable and reusable medical gown materials, including alternative materials such as Canadian manufactured house wrap and air bag materials
- this is over and above the efforts provinces and territories are taking to secure their own supply
If pressed on domestic suppliers:
- PSPC has awarded contracts to 16 domestic suppliers for the production of gowns and, through ISED, have connected these domestic suppliers with domestic material manufacturers
- delivery of domestically-made gowns started in early May
Background
Medical gowns are hospital gowns worn by medical professionals as PPE in order to provide a barrier between patient and professional. Whereas patient gowns are flimsy often with exposed backs and arms, PPE gowns cover most of the exposed skin surfaces of the professional medics.
There is a very high demand for gowns globally. Material usually used for the production of gowns is being diverted to the production of masks. Manufacturers are proposing alternative material for the production of gowns in Canada. On the domestic front, there is also great competition amongst the suppliers for the same resources, resulting in an impact on the price.
Product compliance is reviewed against the technical specifications released by the World Health Organization (WHO). All proposed gowns are reviewed by the PHAC technical team. PHAC has implemented a robust quality assurance program. For domestic suppliers, samples are being assessed before production begins and then again once they are delivered to PHAC and prior to distribution to provinces and territories.
In April, Canada was experiencing some delivery delays with gown shipments, however the delivery of domestic gowns started at the beginning of May. With the shortage of material, the global demand for gowns, and the restrictions for physical distancing measures in manufacturing industries, production lines were delayed. With the new restrictions for exporting from China, the customs process is taking longer than anticipated. Imported gowns are now being delivered in low quantities as deliveries by air are affected by the weight of the gowns.
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