Australia is currently facing shortages of more than 320 medicines – almost 50 of the medicines are rated critical.
The disruption in the supply chain is the major cause of shortages of medicines in the country with more medicines going out of stock in the markets.
Doctors and pharmacists are finding it hard to help their patients in the worsened Covid-19 pandemic, which is again threatening the country.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has listed more than 321 medicines as shortages, with 50 of them rated critical and 85 more to join the list.
Major drugs for anxiety, depression, nausea, hormone replacement, diabetes, and cancer treatment are listed as either short in supply or currently unavailable.
Dr. Cathryn Hester, Queensland deputy chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) said the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the international supply chains, which is causing major medicines shortages.
“The shortage of certain medicines is becoming an increasing problem in Australia, and it’s really been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic which has affected international supply chains,” Dr. Hester said.
“GPs are seeing more patients who are telling them that they can’t get the medicines they’ve been prescribed from their local pharmacy. GPs often have a good relationship with the pharmacies in their local area and will work with them to help get the medicines their patient needs if they are struggling to find them. We can also sometimes find a substitute for a certain medicine, but medicines are not easily substituted between each other.”
