There is a warning today Australia's stocks of essential medicines are balanced on a "knife edge", with hundreds of basic medications in scarce supply.
Nick Coatsworth, a former federal deputy chief medical officer, told Weekend Today the widely used Amoxacillin syrup to treat bacterial infections was among those facing a critical shortage.
"These are drugs that are essential," he said.
"What we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is we are balanced on a knife edge in terms of medication supply."
Coatsworth said it was concerning people seeking aide had to go from pharmacy to pharmacy to obtain essential drugs such as anti-depressants and medication used for lowering cholesterol.
He said the shortage was especially felt in rural areas.
Coatsworth said an overhaul of Australia's pharmaceutical industry was needed and more production capacity was needed here.
"I think in the longer term we've seen that we don't have the manufacturing capacity in Australia and that needs to change," he said.
"There's some good news on the front of mRNA vaccines and other vaccines which will be produced onshore but we're talking about basic medicines."
Doctor's groups have lobbied ahead of the May federal budget to change dispensing and prescribing rules, which would double the number of drugs dispersed in each prescription and extend the prescription period.
The suggested changes also propose lower caps on medicine payments, to make them more affordable.
But some pharmacy groups have warned the changes could worsen the shortage of some medicines.
Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.
Shock jock shot in front of own home returning from date with wife
Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.
