No more ‘ad hoc’ drug shortage working groups

3 minute read


The AMA is calling for a proactive, broad-scope medical shortages working group and a more productive method of indicating the impact of medicine shortages.


The Australian Medical Assocation is calling for the formation of a medical shortages forum and the implementation of a “traffic light” system to improve the navigation of drug shortages.

Last year saw a number of high-profile medicine shortages across the country, from MHT treatments to IV fluids, antiretroviral drugs to PrEP.

At present, according to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s medicine shortage reports database, 421 drugs remain in shortage.

The response to substantial shortages currently involves the formation of ad hoc medicine shortages working or action groups, as and when needed, coordinated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

In its submission to the TGA consultation on medicine shortages, released today, the AMA has called for the formation of a medicine shortage forum.

The association said this would allow the TGA to act proactively and may help with timely, accurate and consistent communication with relevant stakeholders around supply challenges, shortages and cessations.

“This group should consist of representatives from key groups representing medicine, pharmacy, wholesalers, and sponsors who could discuss current or upcoming shortages, solutions and, most importantly, communications to all stakeholders,” said the AMA.

The association suggested the group should meet every six to eight weeks, with extraordinary meetings and additional expert invitees as necessary.

Among its other roles, it should be tasked with finding a better approach to medicine shortage notifications, particularly for high-profile shortages.

“The Ozempic shortage demonstrated that providing an expected end date is not often useful, even counterproductive in some instances,” they said.

“The AMA suggests one approach might be to employ a ‘traffic light’ system to communicate phased supply shortages proportionate to their scope and critical impact.

“For example, a ‘yellow light’ could indicate for practitioners to continue current patients on the product concerned, but guide practitioners not to prescribe new patients, and so on.”

The TGA also proposed extending the minimum notice period for sponsors for permanent discontinuations from six to12 months, which the AMA broadly supported.

“Providing earlier notice of discontinuations deemed to be of critical impact would certainly allow for more effective planning among health professionals and patients, reducing adverse effects on treatment continuity,” said the association.

“However, while the proposal to extend the discontinuation period from six to 12 months is practical for broader stakeholders, it may not be reasonably applied across all suppliers.

“Unpredictable changes to supply chains remain prevalent since the covid pandemic in particular.

“It is not always possible to determine a year in advance whether minor market shifts or changes in the cost or efficiency of resources associated with a medicine could lead to a business decision to halt its production.”

The AMA also supported the addition of 23 critical non-prescription medicine to the reportable medicines list to allow the TGA to request supply information from sponsors.

These include intravenous fluids and medical imagine contrast agents.

The AMA hailed the TGA for its efforts in this space, despite the need for improvement, and suggested that the Australian Centre for Disease Control also be involved.

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