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Review
. 2024 Oct;47(5):148-152.
doi: 10.18773/austprescr.2024.045.

Managing medicine shortages

Tom Simpson  1   2 , Jerry Yik  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Managing medicine shortages

Tom Simpson et al. Aust Prescr. 2024 Oct.

Abstract

Medicine shortages are increasingly common and disruptive to the optimal delivery of health care. They are caused by a variety of factors, including manufacturing and supply-chain issues, regulatory and trade issues, and fluctuations in demand. Prescribers and pharmacists in Australia can manage a shortage by switching to another brand, strength or dosage form of the same medicine, switching to a different registered medicine, or accessing an unregistered medicine that has been made available via section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 or through the Special Access Scheme. There are a range of resources and tools that can assist clinicians with identifying and managing medicine shortages in Australia. Shortages are managed most effectively when prescribers, pharmacists and nurses work together, in collaboration with patients, to develop, implement and monitor strategies to manage the shortage.

Keywords: Therapeutic Goods Administration; drug regulation; medicine shortages.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: Tom Simpson has received funding from Advanced Pharmacy Australia (formerly the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia) for attendance at meetings and educational events. Jerry Yik has represented Advanced Pharmacy Australia on Medicine Shortage Action Groups convened by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, and in advocacy activities and stakeholder consultations in relation to medicine shortages.

References

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