War risk. Is Australia prepared for medicine shortages?

During the US-Israel-Iran War, all eyes were on fuel supply. But critical medical supplies potentially posed a higher risk. Rex Patrick reports.

The Iran war may or may not be over, but our fuel supplies appear to be under control for now. But while all eyes were on fuel security, there were other supply chain conversations and challenges within the government.

In addition to supplying industrial, mining and resource industries, the government was also specifically looking for food and groceries, plastics and fertilizers, and some focused on pharmaceuticals.

medical vulnerability

Our government has little control over the supply of medicines in Australia; However, there is a requirement to hold minimum stocks of certain medicines and a legal obligation for suppliers to report potential shortages of identified medicines to the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Readers may recall that from April 2023 to 2024, Australia experienced a shortage of Intravenous (IV) fluids used for routine and critical care, fluid replacement, resuscitation, and the administration of other IV medications in hospitals, following a combination of global demand and production constraints.

At the time, IV fluids were not a reportable medication, something that has now been fixed. The IV fluid shortage was a reminder of our medical fragility that had resurfaced since the start of the war on February 28.

Wartime warning

In early March the TGA contacted the therapeutic goods industry peak bodies to actively request that they inform the Government as soon as possible of any signs of potential supply problems arising from the rapid escalation of the Iran War.

The TGA also conducted a preliminary assessment of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) for medicines produced in the Middle East that may be affected by conflict. The countries examined were Israel, Iran, Turkey, Cyprus, Jordan, Lebanon, UAE, Oman, Pakistan and Qatar. More than 70% of the 531 ARTG products were produced by Türkiye and Israel… none were produced in Iran, Lebanon or Qatar.

TGA Analysis (Source: FOI)

11 products were assessed as “at risk of supply” if the conflict prolongs.

As of March 11, 2, suppliers had stated that 3 products were affected by issues arising from the conflict, but that they were working to secure flights from the Middle East.

A briefing was given to the Ministry on 12 March.

The TGA was actively seeking other suppliers but warned the minister that our long shipping lines and transit times could cause Australia to feel the effects of disruptions “earlier or more severely than other jurisdictions”. Increases in fuel and insurance costs may make it difficult to find alternative materials.

drug availability

The Medicines Availability Working Group (MAWG) met on March 18. The MAWG consists of representatives from each state and territory and the TGA’s Medicines Shortages Section. They meet once a month.

The Iranian problem was on the agenda of the March meeting.

Queensland reported its central warehouse was at full capacity. NSW was preparing a list of essential medicines likely to be stockpiled in public hospitals. The TGA was discouraging stockpiling. Victoria was experiencing increases in shipping costs with pharmaceutical suppliers.

A few days later the TGA advised people not to panic and buy medicines.

Supply chain flexibility

MWM It does not know if there were any shortcomings resulting from the conflict, as Freedom of Information requests are rarely responded to in a timely manner. But it is good to know that from the moment the conflict began, the authorities turned their minds to the possible shortage of medicines.

But the issue raises questions about how well prepared Australia is overall. Covid 19 alerted us to vulnerabilities in the supply chain, and the War in Iran served as a timely reminder.

There is a Supply Chain Resilience Office within the Ministry of Industry, Science and Resources. MWM While Freedom of Information requests were pending, he began investigating some of their work.

There is a huge public interest in making sure we reach peak national resilience because preparedness is, after all, cheap medicine.

Inflated fuel prices. War profiteering and government hypocrisy

Rex Patrick is a former South Australian Senator and formerly a submariner in the armed forces. Known as an anti-corruption and transparency warrior, Rex is also known as “Transparency Warrior“