Oakville company ramping up production of epidural catheters to meet supply shortage

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Published May 5, 2023 at 11:56 am

The provincial government is providing funding to help Oakville's Canadian Hospital Specialties in the domestic manufacturing of epidural catheters and create 10 new good-paying jobs in Oakville. CHS PHOTO

A Oakville medical supply company is stepping up production to help meet a global shortage in epidural catheters.

Canadian Hospital Specialties Limited, with a $775,000 financial boost from the province’s Ontario Together Fund, is investing over $1.5 million to produce the epidural catheters which are used predominantly during childbirth to inject medications for pain relief.

The increased funding will also help create 10 new well-paying jobs at the local company.

“We are grateful for the support from the Ontario Together Fund,” said Mike Canzoneri, President and CEO of CHS.

“Knowing the severe constraints within the existing supply chain, we will immediately be leveraging this investment to expand domestic manufacturing for epidural catheters by retooling and upgrading our equipment.”

Canadian Hospital Specialties (CHS) is a medical device manufacturer and specialty distributor located in Oakville, Ontario. The local company manufactures products for hospitals and healthcare customers, spanning across many clinical categories including Respiratory, Anesthesia, Neonatal Intensive Care, Perfusion Medicine, Interventional Radiology, Diagnostic Imaging, Pharmacy and General Medical Surgical Supplies.

“During the pandemic, Canadian Hospital Specialties was a trusted supplier and partner helping to keep Ontarians safe by producing critically needed medical supplies,” said Oakville MPP Stephen Crawford, who made the announcement on Thursday (May 4). “It is encouraging to see their efforts continue in other healthcare areas where ongoing product shortages due to global supply chain challenges are a concern.”

The Ontario Together Fund, which has received over $100 million in funding from the province, provides financial support to organizations with projects geared towards advancing healthcare resiliency, with a focus on developing innovative medical technologies and reducing dependence on foreign supply chains for essential lifesaving medicines. The fund provides investments in capital equipment, technology adoption and skills development.

“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian Hospital Specialties was able to pivot manufacturing operations to address the urgent demand for essential medical devices, supplies, and other PPE, ” said Effie Triantafilopoulos, MPP for Oakville North-Burlington.

“Canadian Hospital Specialties is stepping up once again to address the pressing shortage of epidural catheters which are used primarily during childbirth for administering pain-relieving medications.”

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