Medicine shortage Australia: Dr Nick Coatsworth warns supply running low Amoxicillin, Warfarin
Hundreds of vital medicines are now in short supply as Dr. Nick Coatsworth demands an overhaul of the Australian pharmaceutical industry
- Australian medicines are falling dangerously low
- Dr. Nick Coatsworth calls for drug industry overhaul
Australians have been warned that stocks of 398 medicines, including ‘essential’ medicines, are falling dangerously low.
Dr. Nick Coatsworth, Australia’s former deputy chief medical officer, says Australia’s supply of essential medicines is “on the cutting edge” in the wake of Covid and the country’s pharmaceutical industry needs to be overhauled.
Disturbingly, 45 treatments in the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s ever-expanding list of drug shortages are now deemed “critical,” including some needed to save lives.
Warfarin, which is used to lower the risk of a life-threatening stroke through blood clotting, is one of the critical deficiencies.
So are several antibiotics, including amoxicillin syrup, which is used by thousands of parents to treat sick children, and one of the world’s most important medicines, penicillin V, which is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines.
Dr. Nick Coatsworth, former Australia’s deputy chief of medical services, says Australia’s supply of essential medicines is ‘on the cutting edge’
Australians have been warned that stocks of 398 medicines, including ‘essential’ medicines, are running low
“What we’ve learned from the Covid-19 pandemic is that we’re on the cutting edge in terms of medication supply,” Dr Coatsworth told Weekend Today.
“We don’t have the production capacity in Australia and that needs to change.
“There is good news on mRNA vaccines and other vaccines that will be produced on land, but we are talking basic drugs.”
Making the shortfall worse is that those living in regional areas will be disproportionately affected.
“From my own perspective as an infectious disease physician, you often see antibiotics in short supply, including amoxicillin syrup which is used by so many parents,” explains Dr Coatsworth.
“Sertraline was short last year, which is a commonly used antidepressant, and one of particular concern is warfarin, which is a commonly used anticoagulant for people who want to avoid having a stroke.”
He calls on the federal government and the pharmaceutical industry to find a solution together.
It comes as author Jamila Rizvi, who takes a secret drug she relies on to “stay alive,” tweeted that she was unable to fill a prescription for an essential drug despite visiting three different pharmacies in Canberra in one day.
Author Jamila Rizvi is one of thousands of Australians struggling to find the life-saving medicine she needs at her pharmacy
Ms Rizvi said when her meds start to run out it feels like she’s playing ‘Russian roulette’.
“It definitely takes an emotional toll, there’s a real game of going pharmacist after pharmacist hoping someone has it in stock or making a lot of phone calls.
“I’ve had quite a few meds that have been out of stock for a while, luckily none of the meds that keep me alive.
“But it’s been really stressful. You put it out of your mind for a second, then you remember you have 10 days left of 12 days left on a drug and it feels like you’re playing Russian roulette.”