Global medicine shortages continue to pose significant challenges for patients, their communities and healthcare providers around Australia.

With eyes across the entire onshore medicine supply chain, NPSA medicine wholesalers monitor and track supply data in real-time, enabling the network to identify emerging issues such as short-term onshore shortages or surges in demand.  Every day, our members leverage their expertise in health logistics to manage onshore medicines inventory – helping to mitigate the impact of these shortages for healthcare providers and their patients.

We proactively work with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) providing Alert Reports that are triggered when unusual patterns in the onshore supply chain are detected. This collaboration is a critical working partnership in the ongoing management of global medicine shortages impacting Australia.

While we cannot solve medicine supply issues driven by global factors, we are committed to collaborating with supply chain partners, the Australian Government and the Department of Health to develop policy solutions to address critical supply issues.

NPSA has participated in a public consultation on Medicines Shortages where the NPSA and other industry stakeholders shared insights, experiences and recommendations for future reform.

To learn more, please visit the consultation page on Medicine Shortages to review feedback and all non-confidential submissions. 

Additionally The Medicine Shortages Report 2024, provides a comprehensive overview of how the landscape of medicine shortages in Australia has changed since 2020.