Australian made IV fluids will be a huge step forward in establishing an Australian-made supply of critical health products, but we should be aiming higher and adding pain relief medications to our 'Made in Australia' plans.
Palliative Care Australia (PCA) has welcomed news that the Federal Government will invest $20 million to expand the local manufacturing of IV (intravenous) fluids, partnering with Baxter Healthcare to grow their existing facility in Western Sydney.
"Ongoing shortages of IV fluids have been a huge concern for clinicians since 2023, but over the same time frame, even longer in some case, we have seen heartbreaking shortages of pain relief medications for people of all ages at the end of life," says Camilla Rowland, Chief Executive Officer, Palliative Care Australia.
"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."
Australia already has a role in global production. Tasmania is the world's largest producer of the raw ingredient needed for many of these medicines – poppies.
Poppies are grown to extract a material known as 'alkaloid' which is a core ingredient in a range of pain relief pharmaceuticals including morphine, thebaine and codeine.
According to the Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Tasmania's 450 poppy growers supply almost half of the world's demand of the alkaloid material.
"This is a significant competitive advantage for Australia as global supply chains falter and business models are challenged," Ms Rowland says.
"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.
"A future made in Australia must include medicines. Using Australian grown poppies to make pain relief medications for Australians just makes sense."
With the support of six other leading health and care organisations, PCA has presented an 11 point plan to the Health Minster, to resolve the ongoing shortage of pain relief medications.
"Apart of 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 says.
"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."
The following organisations have developed and are fully supportive of the 11 point plan to resolve medicine shortages:
- Palliative Care Australia
- Australia New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine
- Advanced Pharmacy Australia
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
- Palliative Care Nurses Australia
- Pain Australia
- Aged and Community Care Providers Association
The 11 point plan forms part of Palliative Care Australia's 2025 Federal Election Platform and can be viewed and
