Supply of flu drug dwindling

QUEENSLAND pharmacies are in the midst of yet another shortage of a prescription-only antiviral drug used to treat the flu, as sick patients turn to local compound pharmacists to produce the medication.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has listed Tamiflu as “unavailable” on the Medicine Shortages Information Initiative, with supply not expected to return until October 12.

It is understood this is the third time a shortage has occurred since the beginning of August.

Head Pharmacist at National Custom Compounding Matthew Bellgrove said he’s had a number of requests to produce the medication at his pharmacy on the Gold Coast.

“Under the law a compound pharmacist is able to produce a drug when there is an issue with supply such as in this case.

“I’ve been in this industry about eight years and I’ve never seen a need for me to compound [Tamiflu] before as it’s always only been very short term unavailability,” he said.

Mr Bellgrove said the number of people struck down with the flu this year had been “staggering”. “The manufacturer of Tamiflu simply can’t keep up with demand,” he said.