TODAY, Palliative Care Australia chief executive Camilla Rowland said a "health crisis" was looming, and sick children, the dying and those with chronic pain would be hurt the most, as the number of opioid pain meds in shortage grows.
An estimated 270,000 scripts of the discontinued drugs are filled each year, meaning options for thousands of Australians have been limited, ABC News has reported.
Health groups have called on Federal Health Minister Mark Butler to force pharma companies to extend notice of discontinuations from six to 12 months, consult with clinicians, review processes so alternatives can get PBS listing quickly and proactively look for alternative products.
The Australia and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine president Michelle Gold said it was hard to understand why the medicines had been discontinued at short notice.
"These medications perhaps aren't coming off patent or not making sufficient income for the company," she said.
Gold said she was concerned by the lack of social responsibility from companies that received millions in tax-payers funds.
"Surely they should have some moral obligation to ensure that people are not left without essential medications simply because a product becomes less profitable," she remarked.
MundiPharma, which supplies the medicines, said in a statement that the products were withdrawn "after careful consideration" and most had alternatives.
"This was a global business decision, based on the complexity of continuing to provide these products in certain markets," the company stated.
"With Ordine, Mundipharma is currently exploring all possible options and is still seeking continuation of Ordine for Australian patients."
The issue was discussed at a medicines shortage action group meeting and the TGA has approved a temporary supply of overseas equivalents for medicines such as Ordine, Jurnista and Dilaudid.
The TGA added substitutes for Oxynorm, MS Mono and Sevredol were being considered.
"The TGA will meet with affected groups in early 2024 to discuss issues relating to these discontinuations," it commented.
"We are also continuing to discuss the longer-term supply of Australian-registered alternatives to these discontinued products with other sponsors." JG
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