Pain medication shortages

05 September 2024

FPM Dean Dr Dilip Kapur recently wrote to the Australian Health Minister Mark Butler about persistent ongoing shortages of essential pain-relieving medications.

The letter particularly focused on oral morphine preparations, which are indispensable in the management of severe pain, including in palliative care.

These shortages, now stretching into their second year, have severely impacted patient care, forcing healthcare providers to rely on inconsistent supplies of alternative medications.
 
The situation is exacerbated by the withdrawal of key products from the Australian market by international pharmaceutical companies. This disruption has led to significant gaps in the continuity of care, placing both patients and clinicians in an untenable position.

A copy of the correspondence is available on our website under 2024 submissions.