Australia is facing widespread medicine shortages with more than 400 drugs in short-supply.
There are currently 424 medicines listed on the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) medicine shortage database, at least 20 of those are at critically low levels.
Medicines in shortage include Ritalin to treat ADHD, and antibiotic Benzathine Penicillin for upper respiratory tract infections as well as antidepressant fluoxetine.
The TGA has cited temporary local-level disruptions and COVID-19 for the shortages.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) on Thursday urged the federal government to take further action as vulnerable patients were being most impacted.
“Government needs a better strategy to redirect existing critical medicines supplies within the country to priority groups and patients,” said RACP President Professor Jennifer Martin.
“Current approaches often get very difficult for both patient and physician and need to be fixed, urgently.
“Physicians are left to navigate the maze without a compass to find and source substitutes for complex patients, with varying levels of success.
“This can leave patients with the same health conditions in dramatically different positions and is a major national health equity concern.”
To see the full list of impacted medicines visit the TGA website.
