Warning as Australian medicines are running out

Hundreds of basic medications are in scarce supply, with an expert issuing a grim warning that we are balancing “on a knife’s edge”.

Hundreds of basic medications are in scare supply, with many Australians forced to go without amid warnings the nation’s pharmaceutical industry is balancing on a knife’s edge.

Almost 400 medicines are affected, including antibiotics and drugs used for lowering cholesterol, forcing some people to go from pharmacy to pharmacy in a desperate attempt to find stock.

The shortages are hitting worse in rural areas.

“They’re essential medications,” Nick Coatsworth, a former federal deputy chief medical officer, told Weekend Today.

“From my own perspective as an infectious disease physician, often you see antibiotics on short supply including Amoxicillin syrup which is used by so many parents.

“Sertraline was short last year, that’s a very common antidepressant drug and one that's particularly worrying is Warfarin which is a very commonly used anticoagulant for people who want to prevent themselves from having a stroke.”

Hundreds of medications are in short supply. Picture: iStock

He said the coronovius pandemic laid out some real challenges for the nation’s pharmaceutical industry.

“What we learned from the Covid-19 pandemic is we are balanced on a knife edge in terms of medication supply,” he added.

Dr Coatsworth said an overhaul was needed of the nation’s pharmaceutical industry, and a boost in production capacity is crucial.

“I think in the longer term we’ve seen that we don’t have the manufacturing capacity in Australia and that needs to change,” he said.

“There’s some good news on the front of mRNA vaccines and other vaccines which will be produced onshore but we’re talking about basic medicines.”

Dr Coatsworth said change is needed. Picture: Weekend Today

Melbourne-based author Jamila Rizvi is among those who has been affected by the short supply, and says it has been stressful having to go from pharmacy to pharmacy to try to get the medicine she needs.

“It definitely takes a toll emotionally, there’s a real game of going to pharmacist after pharmacist, and hoping that someone’s going to have it in stock or making a whole bunch of phone calls,” she said.

“I’ve had a good handful of medicines that have been out of stock for a period, luckily none of the ones that keep me alive.

“But it’s been really stressful, you put it out of your head for a bit then you remember you’ve got 10 days left of 12 days left of a medicine and it does feel like you’re playing Russian roulette.”

Jamila has been impacted by the shortage. Picture: Weekend Today

If proposed changes to dispensing and prescribing rules, which are being lobbied by doctor’s groups ahead of the May federal budget, are approved there are fears the shortages may worsen.

This is because the new rules would see the number of medications dispensed in each prescription doubled and the prescription period extended, along with lower caps on medicine payments so they become more affordable.