THE Pharmacy Guild of Australia is supporting a call from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for a medicine shortage forum to improve coordination and communication about disruptions to the supply of crucial medicine.
The AMA's proposal is outlined in its submission to the Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA) proposed changes to reporting requirements for medicine shortages and discontinuations.
The current approach to managing medicine shortages is too short term and reactive, said the National President of the Pharmacy Guild, Trent Twomey.
"It doesn't address the root cause of shortages, and patients continue to suffer," Twomey said.
"Information sharing and greater awareness of existing and forecasted supply disruptions is crucial to making sure patients have the medicine they need."
Ongoing shortages mean community pharmacists continue to struggle to provide patients with the medicines they need, including crucial medicines for diabetes, menopause and mental health.
The Guild says the Government needs to take a proactive approach to combat medicine shortages and has been calling on the Government to reinstate the Medicine Shortage Working Party formed in response to medicine shortages during COVID but has since disbanded.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said a dedicated forum could provide ongoing advice on upcoming shortages and solutions, and significantly improve communication to doctors, patients and all other relevant stakeholders.
"The TGA does a good job of managing medicine shortages and discontinuations, which we know can be very unpredictable, but there is room for improvement, and the TGA has recognised this.
"One issue that persists is the challenge of timely, accurate and consistent communication regarding medicine shortages.
"These shortages affect so many people in our community, including doctors, pharmacists and crucially, patients," Dr McMullen said.
The AMA pointed out that a dedicated forum, consisting of key groups representing medicine, pharmacy, wholesalers and sponsors, could replace the ad-hoc action groups that are normally formed in response to specific shortages.
"Medicine shortages and other disruptions have a profound effect on the community and inadequate communication can result in additional costs for patients, for whom there is often little transparency or forewarning," Dr McMullen said.
"We appreciate the nature of medicine shortages are unpredictable, but this is about giving us the best possible chance to respond to supply disruptions, which remain prevalent in the post-COVID era." KB
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