IV fluids in short supply are saline and Hartmann’s solution. They are provided by three approved Australian suppliers: Baxter Healthcare, B.Braun and Fresenius Kabi.
According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), “the shortages are due to multiple factors including global supply limitations, unexpected increases in demand, and manufacturing issues”. IV fluid products are expected “to be constrained throughout 2024”.
IV fluids are essential for both routine and critical hospital care and are crucial for fluid replacement, resuscitation, and administering other medications directly into the bloodstream (TGA, 2024).
We applaud measures undertaken by the TGA to address the shortage, including approving the importation of alternative, overseas-registered saline fluids. We join calls by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for the government to act now to develop a national strategy to strengthen every part of Australia’s medical supply pipeline underpinned by transparency on IV fluid and other medicine shortages.