Site notifications

Sub menu

 

 

Medicine shortages

Find out how to how to check for medicine shortages, and what to do if your product is affected.

This page is in Beta testing. We welcome your feedback and suggestions as we look to improve this page.

Shortages and supply disruptions occur when there is not enough of a medicine available in Australia to meet patient needs. 

These disruptions can be caused by manufacturing delays, supply chain issues, regulatory barriers, trade limitations, or unexpected spikes in demand.

You can go directly to our Medicine shortage reports database if you want to search for information about a specific medicine shortage:

Medicine shortage reports database

You can also search our medicine shortage alerts and find information on major or ongoing medicine shortages below.

For information about shortages and supply disruptions affecting medical devices, go to Medical device supply disruptions. 

What you need to know about medicine shortages

Suppliers must report shortages of prescription medicines and some over-the-counter medicines to us.

Each shortage listed on our medicine shortages reports page refers to a single product, though alternative brands, strengths or dose forms are often available.

We work with sponsors to understand the cause of shortages and may approve overseas alternatives or adjust regulatory requirements to support access.

What you need to know about a shortage depends on whether you are taking or using, dispensing, prescribing or supplying the medicine.

Watch a video about how we manage medicine shortages

Find medicine shortage reports, alerts and information

We aim to publish the latest information about a shortage as soon as it becomes available.

How to access other medicines during a shortage

Find out how to access alternative medicines to manage a medicine shortage.  

Our approach to managing shortages

We are continuously working to improve the way we manage and communicate about medicine shortages.