As the expression goes, ‘Never waste a good crisis’. Even as the immediate threat has somewhat abated, we’re still figuring out how to navigate ‘the trade crisis’ as expressed by the US President.
The Canadian government has decided to maintain the retaliatory tariffs it implemented in March and several provinces, including Ontario, have released their own procurement restriction policies. Ontario’s new rule is designed to prohibit Ontario public sector entities from purchasing goods and services from U.S. businesses, except in a limited set of circumstances.
While this retaliatory approach creates more challenges and chaos, the upheaval has motivated serious self-reflection. We realize that CMEPP – and by extension, our hospital Participants across the country – maintains significant advantages:
- We remain supplier ‘agnostic’ with strong supplier networks across Canada and the US, prioritizing responsiveness and cost efficiency rather than location and size.
- We’re committed to providing our hospital Participants with equipment choices and flexibility, especially as aging equipment nears end of life.
- We’re strengthening our alliances with healthcare partners like CMBES, HealthPRO Canada and alternative based Canadian service Suppliers to ensure vital access to equipment supplies and supply chain stability. One of the ways to reduce our economic vulnerability is by strengthening Canadians’ right to repair of our devices and equipment.
As Right to Repair advocate and professor of law and computer science Anthony Rosborough says, “Right to Repair is a key tool in our kit to becoming more economically resilient, supporting local businesses, and innovation. Though this is undoubtedly true for Canada, it is also true for the United States.”
While higher prices may be unavoidable for already financially-strained hospitals, this crisis has made us more nimble and unified.
If your healthcare organization is wondering how to manage your relationships with equipment suppliers in these difficult times, both in Canada and stateside, please get in touch with CMEPP. We understand the supplier marketplace and you have more options than you think.
