Pharmacy Guild of Australia Spokesperson said:
“Community Pharmacists are not surprised by the heartbreaking revelations of medication shortages on A Current Affair tonight.
“For several years, the Pharmacy Guild has been highlighting the very real difficulties caused by medicine shortages that continue to occur. The current serious shortages notice system in Australia is failing patients, shortages can be local, state based or national and the serious shortages scheme is clearly not working.
“Pharmacists will always try to source the medicine or find an alternative. However, medicine shortages cause significant distress to patients – and their parents – as they struggle to get their essential medication.
“Medicine shortages need to be managed proactively in collaboration with industry, government and healthcare providers.
“Australia imports approximately 90% of all medicines on the PBS, we need to urgently consider domestic manufacturing to provide a buffer to global threats, like tariffs or conflict, that could reshape our medicines landscape.”