Shortages
Search for information about a medicine shortage and find out if there is a way to access an alternative product.
A medicine shortage occurs when there is unlikely to be enough of a medicine in Australia for the people who need to take it. Suppliers must report shortages of prescription medicines and a small number of over-the-counter medicines to the TGA.
Each shortage listed on our medicine shortages reports page refers to a single product. There are usually alternative brands, strengths or dose forms of the same medicine available.
You can view our medicine shortage alerts and search the medicine shortage reports database on our website. The information in the database will provide an estimate of how long the shortage will last and may tell you if there is an alternative medicine available. Our page on accessing medicines during a shortage explains more about accessing alternative products.
Find out how we manage a medicine shortage, including information for sponsors on reporting a shortage and supplying alternative products during a shortage.
Latest alerts
- Update: Prescribers advised not to start new patients on OzempicRead advice about not prescribing Ozempic to new patients unless there are no suitable alternatives or there is a compelling clinical reason.
- Substitution approved for vigabatrin (Sabril) shortageTo help manage the shortage of the tablet form of vigabatrin (Sabril), we have made a Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument that allows a pharmacist to provide the oral sachets.
- Supply of Ordine (morphine) to ceaseRead about the supply of Ordine (morphine) oral liquid being discontinued in Australia between November 2023 and early 2024.
Latest articles
- New reporting requirements for medicine shortagesCompanies supplying medicines in Australia will be required to provide additional information if their products go into shortage.
- TGA’s new powers will help reduce the impact of medicine shortages on patientsFrom 22 March 2023 changes to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 will help alleviate the effects of medicine shortages on patients.
- Consumers warned about Ozempic scamsThe TGA is aware of several scams targeting consumers seeking semaglutide (Ozempic). Consumers are strongly advised not to use products unless they have come from a trusted source.
Latest publications
- SGLT2 inhibitors approved for T2DM onlyMedicines Safety Update - Information for health professionals
- Medicine shortages: Report on the first 12 months of the mandatory reporting schemeThis report describes the first 12 months of the mandatory reporting scheme