TGA urges against panic buying amid medicine supply disruptions

GPs have been assured that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is ‘actively monitoring’ medicine supplies coming into Australia, as deliveries are rerouted amid conflict in Iran.  
 
The regulator has confirmed it is working closely with industry to ‘identify any emerging or potential supply issues as soon as possible’.
 
Despite significant disruptions continuing to impact international travel and trade, forcing global pharmaceutical companies to divert medicines away from usual trade routes, the TGA is urging patients not to panic buy or stockpile their medications.
 
‘People should only buy the medicines they need,’ a spokesperson told newsGP.
 
‘Stockpiling medicines is unnecessary and can disrupt access to vital medicines by patients and pharmacies.
 
‘While we do not coordinate the supply of medicine, we undertake a range of activities to help manage and resolve shortages, as well as timely communication of relevant information to health professionals and patients.’
 
Medicines Australia chief executive Liz de Somer also confirmed that ‘immediate adjustments’ were made when the conflict broke out to ensure Australia’s medicine supply remained stable.
 
‘Things like changing delivery to air freight from sea freight, and then for those that are remaining on sea freight, routes have been adjusted to avoid the conflict areas,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘There was a very rapid response to ensure that delivery routes remain open and that medicines can be still brought to Australia as expected.
 
‘The pharmaceutical companies work actively on global medical supply chains and that global machinery went into action very quickly.’
 
Ms de Somer echoed the TGA’s warnings against patients panic buying, confirming that ‘at the moment we are not having any reports of shortages being caused by the conflict’.
 
‘It’s really important that people still take their medicines as prescribed by their doctor – don’t think that panic buying is the right action, because it’s not,’ she said.
 
‘GPs can reassure patients, certainly, their normal prescribing behaviour is important.
 
‘Pharmacists will be also managing their supplies, and so it’s important to have conversations with pharmacists where relevant, and I’m sure that they will let doctors know if they are individually having any problems with supplies.’
 
The RACGP says any distress felt by its members in response to the conflict is of ‘great concern’, and that it continues to listen to members who have reached out to share their views. Support is available through the college website.
 
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