By Parker McKenzie
After reports of shortages in antibiotics impacting pharmacies around Australia, local chemists said ongoing supply issues have become standard since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In December 2022, the Therapeutic Goods Administration released an alert warning of a shortage of antibiotics in Australia, including amoxicillin, cephalexin and metronidazole, which are used to treat a variety of bacterial infections.
A staff member at a local Belgrave pharmacy said there have been on-and-off-again shortages of certain items for most of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It has mainly been stuff like the pain relief and cold and flu section in the past,” she said.
“It’s been happening for most of the Covid period and has been hard to manage at times.”
Another pharmacy in Ferntree Gully also reported seeing shortages of medications in recent times.
The TGA said most of the shortages are “caused by manufacturing issues or an unexpected increase in demand.”
“Importantly, many of these medicines have alternatives available,” the TGA said.
“Your pharmacist may be able to give you a different brand, or your doctor can prescribe a different strength or medicine with a similar spectrum of activity.”
Acting President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Victorian Branch Grace Chong said the guild is aware that there are some pharmacies experiencing shortages of some medicines.
“Where shortages do occur, pharmacists routinely work with prescribers and their pharmacy colleagues to ensure patients can access the treatment they need,” she said.
The TGA has issued two Serious Scarcity Substitution Instruments to assist with the shortage of oral amoxicillin and cephalexin antibiotics, meaning pharmacists can dispense a substitute product containing the same active ingredient to the patient when the prescribed product is unavailable, under certain conditions.
Amoxicillin is commonly used to treat issues like middle ear infections, strep throat, pneumonia, skin infections and urinary tract infections, and cephalexin is used to treat pneumonia and other chest infections, skin infections and urinary tract infections.
