Estrogen Patch Shortage Hits B.C. as PharmaCare Coverage Expands
British Columbia health officials have confirmed a shortage of estrogen patches in the province, arriving alongside a PharmaCare policy change that made menopausal hormone therapy fully covered for MSP-enrolled residents as of March 1, 2026.
What Health Canada and B.C. are reporting
According to a written statement from Health Canada cited by CBC, hormone replacement therapy drugs are generally available in Canada with the exception of estrogen/progestin patches, with an estimated shortage end date of July or August. In B.C., naturopathic doctor Allana Polo told Global News there is a shortage of estrogen patches in the province and that clinicians have pivoted to alternative delivery formats.
Polo added that there is still a delay for some specific milligram strengths of the brand-name Estradot patch, though more supply is becoming available.
B.C. PharmaCare coverage change
B.C. announced that as of March 1, 2026, menopausal hormone therapy is covered 100 per cent in the province for any resident enrolled in MSP. Polo noted a shortage was already visible before free coverage started, with an uptick in prescriptions over recent months.
For readers tracking out-of-pocket costs in other provinces, see current estradiol patch pricing, estradiol gel pricing, and oral estradiol pricing on WomensHealthPrices.ca.
Scope of the shortage in the national database
Drug Shortages Canada, the national reporting database, shows that since 2017 there have been 92 shortages and four discontinuations of products containing estradiol, including transdermal patches, pills, vaginal rings, topical gels and creams.
Health Canada notes that for certain drugs, manufacturers are required by law to report anticipated and actual drug shortages and discontinuations on the national shortage reporting website. When a shortage has the potential to pose a significant risk, Health Canada's Health Product Shortages Directorate may assemble a Tier Assignment Committee, and Tier 3 shortages are posted publicly.
Why patches are harder to substitute
Shirley Weir, founder of Menopause Chicks, told Global News that not every manufacturing facility can produce the patch, which is a slow-release form of transdermal estrogen, whereas pills, liquids and gels can be made by more manufacturers.
Mina Tadrous, a pharmacist and associate professor at the University of Toronto, told CBC that drugs often pass through multiple countries and facilities before reaching Canadian pharmacies, and that manufacturing hormones is particularly specialized. Christian Ouellet, vice-president of corporate affairs at Sandoz Canada, told CBC that producing a drug can take 18 to 24 months from raw materials to distribution.
Alison Shea, an Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Psychiatry at McMaster University, discussed the impact of the shortage on patients and clinicians.
What to watch next
- Whether Health Canada's July-August shortage end date estimate for estrogen/progestin patches holds.
- Whether B.C.'s March 1, 2026 PharmaCare coverage expansion drives further demand pressure on Estradot supply.
- Updates on the Drug Shortages Canada reporting website for new estradiol postings.
Additional context on provincial coverage is available on our Ontario coverage page, and further reporting appears in our women's health news section. For online provider comparisons, see online menopause treatment.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Sources
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