Trade war may drive up medical costs for Canadians, Medtech Canada says

WATCH: Advocates for Canada's medical device industry are saying their vital tools need to be exempt from the prospective trade war.

A trade war between Canada and the United States could drive up health care costs and disrupt the medical device supply chain on both sides of the border, according to Medtech Canada.

The national association, which represents about 120 Canadian companies in the medical technology industry, worries vital health care tools such as pacemakers, diagnostic imaging, and orthopedic implants could all see drastic increases in prices and disruptions in supply chains.

“We are already experiencing those issues, and anything that disrupts the supply chain and medical devices is going to exacerbate that. So, cost will definitely go up – more concerning is our health care system’s access to critical medical devices,” said Nicole DeKort, Medtech Canada president and CEO.

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While medical devices are not on the list for U.S. tariffs right now – some raw materials such as steel or certain plastics, may be affected.

For the roughly four million diabetics across the country, the changing dynamic with tariffs south of the border is creating uncertainty around lifesaving medication.

“That roller coaster is impacting our quality of life and our way of life because we have to worry about ‘are we going to have to pay more to get things just to survive,’” said Glenn Thibeault, executive director of government affairs and policy with Diabetes Canada.

Thibeault said with what seems to be daily changes to increased tariffs and a threat to the supply chain, many not only worry about the cost of medication, but supplies as well.

“Any additional cost that they have to incur because of this trade war and these tariffs that the U.S. could put on, could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back,” he said.

Tariffs are also concerning for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).

“We’re concerned about the impact that will have on supplies that we need to provide health care,” SHA CEO Andrew Will told reporters on Friday.

Medtech said about 40 per cent of medical devices are imported from the United States.

It’s why it and Diabetes Canada are calling on the both the federal and provincial governments to do what they can to help keep medical devices out of the trade war and costs down for Canadian patients.