The Federal Government is working with doctors and health experts to coordinate an “urgent” response to a national.
IV fluids are used as an essential fluid replacement medicine, and to administer other medications.
The Department of Health said stock levels have been impacted by “global supply limitations”.
However, the country’s peak body for doctors has rejected this claim.
Here’s what you need to know.
What are IV fluids?
IV fluids are liquid solutions often made of water, salt, sugar, or a mixture of different electrolytes.
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said they are used in hospitals “for routine and critical care” including surgeries and resuscitation.
The TGA has confirmed multiple IV fluid products are in short supply, which it warned could continue for the rest of the year.
Shortages
The Government said the shortage was due to global supply limitations, unexpected increases in demand, and manufacturing issues.
The TGA has approved seven international saline fluids for import and use in Australia to ease supply issues.
While the TGA can work with pharmaceutical companies to address the shortage, it does not have the jurisdiction to force companies to register, manufacture, or increase supply in Australia.
Medicine Availability Working Group
As part of its response to the shortage, the Federal Government has convened a meeting of its Medicines Availability Working Group (MAWG).
The group, established in 2021, is made up of health representatives from around the country.
It works to monitor the supply of medicine used in hospitals and provides advice on measures to conserve them.
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Government Response
Over recent months, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has insisted the Government has “been managing [the shortage] pretty well.”
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher was asked about the shortage during Senate Question Time on Thursday.
She said the Government is providing “nationally consistent clinical guidance,” and urged the Coalition to stop “driving fear and a scare campaign” among communities.
Doctor Response
The MAWG includes representatives from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) — the country’s peak professional body for doctors.
President Professor Steve Robson told TDA there needs to be a defined pathway “underpinned by transparency” to ensure medicines are “getting to where they’re needed.”
This includes consultation with hospitals, GPs and remote/regional healthcare providers.
He urged lawmakers to “concentrate on the problem” and avoid politicising it.
“The stakes are really high,” Robson said.
While the TGA tied a global supply issue to Australia’s IV fluid shortage, Robson pushed back against this claim.
The AMA boss said he’s reached out to colleagues in the U.S, the UK and New Zealand, “and they don’t seem to have any particular shortages of intravenous fluids.
“Whatever we’ve been told about global shortages, it does not seem to be having any practical effect in the other countries I’ve spoken to.“
Coalition
The Coalition accused the Federal Government of neglecting its responsibilities, claiming Labor was made “aware of the impending shortage” in May 2023.
Shadow Minister for Health Anne Ruston echoed the AMA’s calls for an urgent and coordinated response.
“We are seriously concerned about the ongoing shortage of saline IV fluids, as doctors in every hospital around our nation have been told to ration the amount being used for their patients…We are beyond monitoring. We need action and leadership.”
