Qld surgery delayed as China’s Covid-19 lockdown puts essential product in short supply

Hundreds of elective procedures could be delayed until at least the end of June as a product essential for medical imaging is in short supply worldwide.

Queensland Health doesn’t know exactly how many elective procedures it will need to postpone amid a worldwide shortage of iodine that a top doctor says underlines the importance of bolstering manufacturing in Australia.

Senior clinicians are currently determining on a case-by-case basis which non-urgent procedures such as blocked leg arteries, need to be rescheduled as Queensland Health revealed the supply issue wouldn’t be solved until at least the end of June.

Authorities on Friday revealed the global shortage of iodine products, used for CTs and radiology scans, had reached Queensland with China’s strict Covid-19 lockdown measures being blamed.

Elective surgery delays are impacting Queenslanders as the state suffers shortages of iodine products.

Queensland Health Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Services executive director Kristine Sketcher-Baker revealed the issues may extend beyond June “given the volatility of Covid-19 lockdowns in Shanghai.”

She said Queensland Health was working with the federal government to source other supply options and develop “strategies to conserve stocks.”

“For the time being, we will need to reschedule some non-urgent elective procedures that require medical imaging until we can replenish stocks,” she said.

“This is unfortunate but unavoidable, as this product is essential for a number of procedures.

“We are hopeful of quickly resolving this issue with the supplier.”

AMAQ president Chris Perry said the delay could impact hundreds of Queenslanders.

“We are going to get, and currently have, shortages of multiple medical drugs and products,” he said.

AMAQ President Chris Perry. Picture David Clark

“These shortages will continue until we have our own production facilities.

“We need to be able to produce most things, not just mRNA vaccines.”

Dr Perry said it was just “another thing” that the state’s stretched health system had to deal with.

He said some stock would arrive from Ireland where it is also manufactured.

Contrast solution is used in many medical imaging tests including in CT scans, angiograms, angioplasty, cholangiograms, gastroenterology procedures, cancer care and some surgical procedures (vascular, general and urology).

Ms Sketcher-Baker said the department was working with hospitals to determine what impact the shortage was having on clinical services.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said each person’s situation was different and clinicians may determine that a different type of procedure or medical imaging could be suitable.

“A clinical team will again, call the individual directly, to speak with them about the best options for their particular healthcare needs,” she said.

It comes after some elective procedures were postponed for two days this week by Metro South Hospital and Health Service following increased demand on hospitals.