Critical medicines repeatedly run out in Australia

Penicillin runs out in Australia

Bicillin L-A, a long-lasting penicillin used to treat syphilis and rheumatic heart disease, went into global shortage. Australia's emergency supplies ran out in September.

This drug has been short before

Bicillin L-A went into shortage in April two thousand twenty-five and is not expected to return to normal until March next year. It has been labelled a critical shortage.

What critical shortage means

A critical shortage means there could be a risk of life-threatening or serious impacts. There is not enough supply or no suitable replacement available on the Australian market.

Multiple shortages of same drug

ABC analysis found multiple shortages of Bicillin L-A. The current shortage is the longest recorded for this drug, with the company citing manufacturing issues as the cause.

Creon also repeatedly unavailable

Creon, used to help people digest food including cystic fibrosis patients, has been in shortage for more than a year due to unexpected increase in demand.

Creon's shortage history

One dose, Creon twenty-five thousand, has been in shortage multiple times in recent years. A low impact shortage occurred in two thousand fifteen, followed by four medium impact shortages.

Forty medicines in critical shortage

Forty medications are recently in critical shortage. ABC analysis revealed more than half have had at least one recorded shortage before. Thirteen, or about a third, have been in critical shortage multiple times.

Doctors frustrated by repeated shortages

Royal Australasian College of Physicians spokesperson John Saunders said repeated medicine shortages caused great frustration among doctors. Alternatives were often unavailable or not as good.

“It's not something that I can say, 'Oh there, there, don't worry about it, it'll be alright', far from it.”

Supply chain lacks resilience

Australia imports ninety percent of medicines but makes up only about two percent of the global pharmaceutical market. Overseas frustration over PBS pricing and Australia's distance add difficulty.

Why shortages happen

Recent critical shortages were mainly caused by manufacturing problems, followed by raw material supply issues, increased global demand, commercial viability and transport difficulties.

Experts call for essential medicines list

Peter Coomber, a University of Queensland pharmaceutical supply chain researcher, said all Australian jurisdictions should commit to a national List of Essential Medicines to streamline coordination during shortages.

TGA acknowledges the problem

The Therapeutic Goods Administration said repeated or long-running shortages of specific medicines were very impactful and concerning. It works with companies and state health departments to resolve each shortage.

Government cannot compel companies

The TGA said pharmaceutical companies are private businesses and government cannot compel them to register, manufacture, market or continue supply of medicines in Australia.

Geopolitical risks ahead

Peter Coomber warned that with increasing global geopolitical instability and reportedly increasing natural and environmental disasters, the frequency of shortages may increase.