He says the manufacturers of multinational and generic brands have had trouble keeping up with the spike in demand.
Weston says the "unusual pressure" on the industry has led to shortages, leaving retailers with limited stock for some medications.
He says manufacturers are working hard to get more product available, but it's difficult to say when the shortages will end.
Weston says the company also recorded sustained growth in prescription medication sales this fall.
His comments to analysts on Wednesday came as Loblaw said its overall drugstore same-store sales grew by 7.7 per cent in its latest quarter.
The company's pharmacy front store same-store sales, which include over-the-counter medication sales but not prescription drugs, increased by 10.7 per cent in the quarter ended
Pharmacy front-store sales rose 9.9 per cent in its fourth quarter ended
The federal government has said help is on the way to help deal with the shortages and that
"The one ask that we have of parents is buy only what you need, so that we make sure that we have enough medicine for children who are sick, but we understand how stressful and scary this is for families," said
This report by The Canadian Press was first published
— With files from
Companies in this story: (TSX:L), (TSX:MRU).
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