With IV fluids critical to surgical operations, persistent shortages may lead to already long surgery waitlists expanding due to delays and cancellations.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has indicated that it is aware of shortages of multiple IV fluid products from all three Australian suppliers (Baxter Healthcare, B.Braun and Fresenius Kabi). The TGA has confirmed that it is closely monitoring the IV fluid situation but supply is expected to be constrained for the remainder of the year. “The shortages are due to multiple factors including global supply limitations, unexpected increases in demand, and manufacturing issues”, it said.
Dr Christine Lai, Councillor and Chair of the Professional Standards and Fellowship Services Committee at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), has applauded the TGA for its efforts so far to alleviate the impacts of the shortage, including the approval of several overseas-registered alternative saline fluids.
“However, this needs to be the first step in a nationally coordinated strategy that is informed by healthcare professionals,” she said.
“The government needs to clearly communicate how it is addressing the current situation to clinicians and the healthcare sector and develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure medicines supply at all stages of the pipeline. Longer-term, we should consider the development of onshore medical manufacturing to insulate Australia from future medicine supply shortages,” said Dr Lai.
RACS calls on surgeons to adhere to current hospital guidelines regarding rationing usage of IV fluids, including limiting the use of IV fluids in day surgery, minimising fasting for surgical patients to reduce the need for fluid replacement and administering medicine via alternative methods.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has indicated that it is aware of shortages of multiple IV fluid products from all three Australian suppliers (Baxter Healthcare, B.Braun and Fresenius Kabi). The TGA has confirmed that it is closely monitoring the IV fluid situation but supply is expected to be constrained for the remainder of the year. “The shortages are due to multiple factors including global supply limitations, unexpected increases in demand, and manufacturing issues”, it said.
Dr Christine Lai, Councillor and Chair of the Professional Standards and Fellowship Services Committee at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), has applauded the TGA for its efforts so far to alleviate the impacts of the shortage, including the approval of several overseas-registered alternative saline fluids.
“However, this needs to be the first step in a nationally coordinated strategy that is informed by healthcare professionals,” she said.
“The government needs to clearly communicate how it is addressing the current situation to clinicians and the healthcare sector and develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure medicines supply at all stages of the pipeline. Longer-term, we should consider the development of onshore medical manufacturing to insulate Australia from future medicine supply shortages,” said Dr Lai.
RACS calls on surgeons to adhere to current hospital guidelines regarding rationing usage of IV fluids, including limiting the use of IV fluids in day surgery, minimising fasting for surgical patients to reduce the need for fluid replacement and administering medicine via alternative methods.