Pain medication should be given the same treatment as IV fluids -- a boost in onshore manufacturing -- says Palliative Care Australia.
Palliative Care Australia is calling for federal funding for pain medication to be given the “made in Australia” tag by boosting local manufacturing.
Last week, federal health minister Mark Butler promised that Australia would no longer be “hostage to overseas supply” of IV fluids following a $20 million investment into sovereign manufacture.
While the news was welcomed by the PCA, the advocacy group called for pain medication to be given the same treatment, given the continuing shortages.
“Ongoing shortages of IV fluids have been a huge concern for clinicians since 2023, but over the same timeframe, even longer in some case, we have seen heartbreaking shortages of pain relief medications for people of all ages at the end of life,” said Camilla Rowland, the CEO of PCA.
“In the same way that government and industry are now investing in local production to solve the IV fluids shortage, we need to do the same for pain relief medications so that people can die with peace and dignity, and so families aren’t left with the trauma of seeing loved ones in pain and distress.”
Currently, Australia has a significant role in pain medication production, with Tasmania poised as the largest producer of poppies worldwide.
Tasmania’s 450 poppy growers produce almost half of the world supply for “alkaloid”, a major ingredient in many pain relief medications.
“This is a significant competitive advantage for Australia as global supply chains falter and business models are challenged,” Ms Rowland said.
“Our experience during covid also demonstrates that we have the skills and capacity to manufacture vaccines locally – at that time we were able to have some independence from supply shortages and global transport challenges and look after our own.
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“A future made in Australia must include medicines.
“Using Australian grown poppies to make pain relief medications for Australians just makes sense.”
Earlier this year, PCA, alongside six other organisations – the Australia New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine, Advanced Pharmacy Australia, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Palliative Care Nurses Australia, Pain Australia and the Aged and Community Care Providers Association – have drawn up an 11-point plan to remedy the pain relief shortages.
“Apart from making these medicines in Australia we are also advocating for a national stockpile to be established and for pharmaceutical companies to give more notice of impending shortages,” Ms Rowland said.
“We want to be partners in solving an issue that has gone on for too long. The wider community is also calling for action, with close to 35,0000 signatures on our ‘Better access to palliative care’ petition.
“We remain hopeful that those who want to make up the 48th parliament of Australia will respond and work with us to fix this so that quality of life at the end of life can be delivered to every Australian.”