Question Period Note: Rapid Tests

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada procured and distributed millions of rapid tests to support rapid testing programs across the country with the aim to limit the spread of the virus.
Health Canada (HC) built substantial federal reserves of rapid tests in the event of a future potential resurgence and, given diminishing demand, is now donating the excess tests to fulfil domestic and international demand and minimize the risk of tests going unused prior to their expiration.

Since 2020, HC provided PTs with free rapid test supply to sustain testing programming and foster PT reserves, while also building a federal inventory for emergency use.
Given large PT inventories, demand for tests from the federal inventory will likely remain low. Health Canada is exploring options for test donations domestically and internationally (World Health Organisation).
IF PRESSED ON THE SIZE OF THE FEDERAL RAPID TEST INVENTORY …
In response to the Omicron wave, PT demand for rapid tests increased dramatically.
Canada used its buying power to secure extremely limited global supply and proactively built reserves, in close collaboration with PTs, in the event of future Omicron-like waves.
As public health measures and requirements for testing diminished, Canada finds itself with substantial inventories to manage.
Subsequent waves of COVID-19 have been relatively mild and demand for rapid tests remained low.
As a result of federal stewardship, Canada remains well-positioned for COVID-19 response.
IF PRESSED ON HEALTH CANADA’S TEST DIVESTMENT STRATEGY ...
Health Canada continues to explore deployment, donation and divestment opportunities to mitigate against wastage prior to asset expiry.
Despite divestment efforts, it is possible that a significant number of rapid tests will not be deployed before expiring.
Canada is strategically managing the supply of rapid tests by:
o working with manufacturers for direct delivery where appropriate;
o reviewing and validating expiry dates periodically and as required;
o working with manufacturers to extend shelf life; and
o shipping inventory with the shortest shelf life first.

The Government of Canada has been a leader in funding, procuring, and distributing rapid tests through multiple channels across Canada, and has been providing rapid tests to provinces and territories since October 2020. In total, since the beginning of the pandemic, the Government of Canada has ordered over 811M rapid tests, at a total cost of $5B.
Of this total, the federal government has shipped 682M rapid tests directly to PTs. These rapid tests have supported the broader testing strategies that PTs have implemented including for screening in hospitals and other health care settings, as well as for expanded school based testing, workplace screening, and community and general population testing.
As a result of federal action in procurement and distribution of rapid tests, in working with PTs, Canada is now well positioned to address potential resurgence, with large inventories of rapid tests across the country. Demand for rapid tests has since fallen and there is a risk some tests will go unused prior to their expiration.
The Government of Canada has made surplus tests available via Public Services and Procurement Canada’s GCSurplus platform through GCTransfer, allowing federal organizations to access rapid tests for their employee testing programs, and through GCDonate providing access to charities, non-profits and public institutions to access rapid tests for their staff and the communities they serve. Canada is also exploring international donation of surplus tests.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Government of Canada has ordered over 811M rapid tests, at a total cost of $5B.
During this period, the Government shipped 682M rapid tests to provinces and territories (PTs) based on their demand projections.
There are currently 92M rapid test in the federal inventory, of which up to 39M have been declared as surplus to be donated domestically and internationally, and the remaining have been identified as emergency support, if needed.
Approximately 534,000 tests have been donated through the GCDonate platform to charities, non-profits and public institutions.
The majority of tests in the federal inventory do not expire until late 2024.