As of December 2, 2024, Héma-Québec will fully assume the role of sole distributor of human tissue for the entire provincial healthcare network. The Héma-Québec team approaches the deployment of this mandate, granted by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS), with confidence and enthusiasm. We remain fully committed to accompanying our network partners throughout this transition, providing them with the necessary support and assistance. Below, you will find the main elements of the mandate, which will guide you in the implementation of this new responsibility.
WEBSITE
The most important point to remember: you have been given access to a special website we have put together to make the transition process easier. This website has all the resources and information you need to know, including frequently asked questions, our product catalog and terms and conditions. As you know, this website provides a central access point where health professionals can directly order the products they need online.
REMINDER ABOUT THE END OF THE CONSIGNMENT SYSTEM
As part of the rollout of the sole human tissue distributor mandate, the consignment system—in which supplier-owned products are stored on site at health care institutions—is being retired. This decision was made to ensure the quality and traceability of the products that Héma-Québec distributes to health care institutions. As a result, all inventory that has not been used or purchased by December 2, 2024, must be returned to suppliers.
Although the consignment system is being discontinued, health care institutions may still maintain minimum inventory levels (safety stock) for products deemed essential to meet routine and emergency demand based on delivery lead times. Inventory maintained as safety stock belongs to the health care institution, not the supplier.
Héma-Québec strongly encourages health care institutions to maintain an adequate safety stock for all products that may be required sooner than the standard lead time. The average standard lead time for human tissue products is 72 hours.