Bonjela, the latest medication in shortage with Warfarin and Amoxicillin

A popular teething gel is the latest hard-to-find medical product, amid a crippling shortage of medications across the country. FULL LIST

A popular teething gel is the latest product leaving chemist shelves empty with calls for the Federal government to do more to promote local pharmaceutical manufacturing amid unprecedented medicine shortages.

Desperate parents have been forced to travel from different pharmacies and supermarkets in an attempt to find Bonjela - a gel that provides fast-acting relief for mouth ulcers, sores and teething.

Other lifesaving drugs are still being rationed or patients are being offered alternatives by pharmacists.

Bonjela Australia confirmed in a statement the product would be difficult to find for up to a month.

“As with many brands in the country, Bonjela has experienced product shortages due to the availability of raw materials,” the statement said.
“It is expected Bonjela products should be back on shelf in pharmacies and supermarkets by mid-April, if not before.

Various medications are out of supply. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

“Any parents experiencing teething difficulties with their child are encouraged to speak with their healthcare professional.”

Pharmacy Guild of Australia national president Trent Twomey said a lot of medications were not made in Australia creating a supply chain issue.

“On medication shortages - it is not just prescription medications, it is non-prescription medications as well,” Mr Twomey said.

“We have never experienced in the history of the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, this level of supply chain disruption.”

Other lifesaving medicine like Warfarin - a blood thinning medication is also experiencing a shortage.

“What we are having to do is work with patients and work with prescribers,” he said.

“Unfortunately we are having to ration to ensure everyone gets what they need.”

“These medications are not made in Australia, we do not make Warfarin here, it’s a supply chain issue and unfortunately it won’t settle down until probably the end of July.

Amoxixillin - a widely used antibiotic used to treat many bacterial infections - was also on the list.

Following the shortages of all strengths of oral amoxicillin medicines The Therapeutic Goods Administration made a Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument late last year – meaning pharmacists were given the power to provide another amoxicillin medicine without prior approval from the prescriber.

RACGP president Dr Nicole Higgins

Mackay-based GP and Royal Australian College General Practitioners president Dr Nicole Higgins said poor supply of medicines had the potential to seriously impact regional patients and increase hospitalisations across the board.

“If there is a national shortage people in rural and regional areas have got less options for accessing medications,” she said.

“An example recently is metronidazole, it’s another medication that’s commonly used (to treat diverticulitis) and we weren’t able to access that through community pharmacy. So in special circumstances, we are able to source it from the local hospital.”

“Losing access to these medications, potentially increases the risk of hospitalisation and death.”

Brisbane GP and RACGP board member Bruce Willett said it was rare that supplies for mainstream medications ran low in Australia but it was “a constant thing”.

“It is really partly to do with Covid and very much to do with globalisation of supply chains, most medication are made in one or two big factories in the world,” Dr Willet said.

“There is nearly always a work around but some of those (drugs) are starting to get a bit low too, it is getting difficult and is time consuming for doctors and pharmacists.”

The doctors both said it highlighted the need for governments to invest in local manufacturing.

“It’d be good to see the Australian Government promoting local manufacturing of at least critical medications,” Dr Willett said.

Dr Higgins said it was vital Australia had the ability to stockpile or manufacture essential medications.

Originally published as Bonjela, the latest medication in shortage with Warfarin and Amoxicillin