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Why we won’t see free sunscreen dispensers in Canadian cities

Models help unveil one of 50 sunscreen dispensers that are being setup in Miami Beach, Florida. (Getty)
Models help unveil one of 50 sunscreen dispensers that are being setup in Miami Beach, Florida. (Getty)

Some U.S. cities are handing out free sunscreen this summer to reduce the risk of skin cancer. But don’t expect to see the same in Canada anytime soon.

Boston recently installed 30 free sunscreen dispensers at public parks, with plans for more in the future. Working in partnership with the Melanoma Foundation of New England and a non-profit organization called Make Big Change, the city offers all-natural 30 SPF sunscreen, which is safe for use in people aged six months and up.

“Preventing skin cancer is a public health imperative,” Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said in a statement when the program was launched earlier this summer. “Strategically placed sunscreen dispensers offer the public an easy preventive measure to avoid sun overexposure.”

Boston was following the lead of Miami Beach, Fla. which began installing sunscreen dispensers at public pools, parks and beaches in March, a program sponsored by Mount Sinai Medical Center and Destination Brands.

The cities were responding to the U.S. Surgeon General’s call to action urging local governments to consider skin cancer a major public health issue.

Despite skin cancer being the most common form of cancer in Canada, however, a free sunscreen program simply isn’t viable here.

In Canada, sunscreens are considered drugs or natural health products. They are subject to the Food and Drug Regulations, administered by the Therapeutic Products Directorate, or the Natural Health Products Regulations, administered by the Natural & Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate.

What does that all mean? In effect, handing out drugs or natural health products for free isn’t legal.

“The distribution of drugs and natural health products as samples to the general public is prohibited in accordance with Section 14 of the Food and Drugs Act (FDA),” Health Canada’s media relations department said in an emailed response to Yahoo Canada’s phone inquiry.

Between 80 and 90 per cent of all skin cancers are caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, according to the Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation. Of the approximately 80,000 cases of skin cancer diagnosed in Canada each year, more than 5,000 are melanoma, the mostly deadly form of skin cancer.

Despite Health Canada’s existing rules, other health agencies would like to see the government adopt a free sunscreen-dispenser program.

Annette Cyr, founder of Melanoma Network of Canada and a three-time survivor of the disease, says the strategy would be simple to implement and have great benefits. She has seen sunscreen being handed out at no charge at the baseball park in Fort Myers, Fla. and at golf clubs throughout the United States.

“It’s kind of ridiculous [that it can’t be distributed for free] just because sunscreen has to have a Drug Identification Number in Canada,” Cyr said by phone. “It’s a bit of a smoke-and-mirrors situation….We have a national medical crisis here. This is a very common type of cancer that can be treated if detected early, but prevention is even better.

“I’m sure you would have the Coppertones of the world lining up to put something at a public facility,” she adds. “Then there are families that can’t afford sunscreen. This is one of many steps we can take to start educating the public.

Dr. Vince Bertucci, president of the Canadian Dermatology Association, says the group would gladly endorse such a program.

“The CDA supports any initiative that’s going to help reduce the incidence of sun damage and reduce the incidence of skin cancer, so anything that brings sunscreen to the public, especially at points where they need it most, is a great idea” Bertucci says by phone. “There are a lot of opportunities for things like this, for instance anything in association with sport— soccer, baseball and any outdoor sport.”

Bertucci adds that the association would like to see more public pressure on governments for the construction of shade structures at public spaces, notably playgrounds.