A SHORTAGE of cancer and anaesthetic drugs is looming in Australia, health experts warn.
Last year there was a similar drought in the US, which is a major medicine supplier.
A recent report by the US Food and Drug Administration reveals there were 196 drug shortages in 2010, up more than 200 per cent from 2006.
The report, completed at the end of last year, focused on dwindling supplies of cancer, anaesthetic and anti-infective drugs such as penicillin. It said physicians might have to ration supplies, delay treatments or use other medicines that could result in side effects.
Health experts fear recent shortages in Australia point to a trend in which patients are forced to seek alternative or inferior treatments.
Gary Richardson, chairman of the Medical Oncology Group of Australia, said financial incentives for local medicine manufacturers could help reduce shortfalls. He said supplies often dwindled when generic producers began replicating medicines with expired patents, causing prices to drop.
Decreased profit margins deterred some manufacturers from producing cheap medicines, Associate Professor Richardson said.
Machinery maintenance disrupted supply in other cases. The Age reported this month that hundreds of cancer patients could be denied access to a crucial cancer drug, Doxil, because its US manufacturer had suspended production.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration said it did not stockpile medicines but worked with the pharmaceutical industry to find alternative sources when necessary.
A TGA spokeswoman said the medicine supply system worked well in Australia.
Emergency doctor Stephen Parnis, Victorian vice-president of the Australian Medical Association, said increasing demand for some medicines was putting pressure on supplies. "It is unsettling to know that drugs we have relied on for decades as a secure source of supply are no longer as certain," he said.
The penicillin shortage that rocked the health sector last year highlighted the "tenuous nature" of medicine supply, Dr Parnis said.
Andrew Mulcahy, president of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists, said the TGA needed to improve its strategy for approving alternative suppliers when medicine stocks were threatened.
He said a recent shortage of anaesthetic drug thiopentone, often used as an alternative to standard anaesthetics, highlighted the supply problems.
"That's a real concern. It's not a new drug," Dr Mulcahy said.
Gillian Sharratt, executive of the NSW Therapeutic Advisory Group, said medication shortages were a continuing problem for Australian hospitals. The group is an independent association that includes pharmacologists, pharmacists and other clinicians.
Ms Sharratt said hospitals lacked the money and space to store medicines in sufficient quantities to ensure long-term supply.
The Victorian Therapeutic Advisory Group did not return calls from The Age.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
What kinds of drug shortages are Australian health experts warning about?
Health experts say Australia faces looming shortages of cancer drugs and anaesthetic medicines. The article also cites recent problems with anti-infective drugs such as penicillin, a suspension in production of the cancer drug Doxil by its US manufacturer, and shortages of the anaesthetic thiopentone.
How widespread are drug shortages internationally, according to the article?
A US Food and Drug Administration report cited in the article found 196 drug shortages in 2010 — an increase of more than 200% compared with 2006 — with many shortages involving cancer, anaesthetic and anti-infective medicines.
What are the main causes of medicine supply shortfalls mentioned in the article?
Experts point to several causes: generic makers replicating off-patent drugs can drive prices down and reduce profit margins, discouraging production; manufacturing disruptions such as machinery maintenance; and rising demand for certain medicines that strains supplies.
How could drug shortages affect patient care and treatment choices?
The article says physicians may need to ration supplies, delay treatments or use alternative medicines that could cause side effects. Health experts warned patients might be forced to seek alternative or potentially inferior treatments when standard drugs are unavailable.
What has the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said about managing medicine shortages?
The TGA told reporters it does not stockpile medicines but works with the pharmaceutical industry to find alternative sources when necessary, and a TGA spokeswoman said the medicine supply system in Australia worked well.
What policy fixes or industry changes do experts recommend to reduce drug shortages?
Experts in the article suggested financial incentives for local medicine manufacturers to encourage production of low‑cost drugs, and called for the TGA to improve its strategy for quickly approving alternative suppliers when stocks are threatened.
Why can't hospitals simply stockpile more medicines to avoid shortages?
According to the NSW Therapeutic Advisory Group quoted in the article, hospitals often lack the money and physical space to store medicines in the large quantities that would be needed to ensure long‑term supply, making stockpiling impractical for many facilities.
Where can everyday investors and concerned citizens watch for reliable updates about drug shortages?
The article points to official and expert sources to follow: regulatory reports such as those from the US FDA, announcements and guidance from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), statements from medical groups (for example, the Medical Oncology Group of Australia and the Australian Medical Association), and reputable media coverage like The Age.
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