Dye shortage forces surgery postponements
QUEENSLAND Health does not know exactly how many elective surgeries it will need to postpone amid a worldwide shortage of iodine that a top doctor says underlines the importance of bolstering manufacturing in Australia.
Senior clinicians are currently determining on a caseby-case basis which nonurgent procedures, such as blocked leg arteries, need to be rescheduled as Queensland Health revealed the supply issue would not be solved until at least the end of June.
Authorities on Friday revealed the global shortage of
iodine products – also known as dye and used for CT and radiology scans – had reached Queensland, with China’s strict Covid-19 lockdown being blamed.
Queensland Health Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Services executive director Kristine Sketcher-Baker said the issues might extend beyond June “given the volatility of Covid-19 lockdowns in Shanghai”. She said Queensland Health was working with the federal government to source other supply options and develop “strategies to conserve stocks”.
“For the time being, we will need to reschedule some nonurgent elective procedures that require medical imaging until we can replenish stocks,” she said.
“This is unfortunate but unavoidable, as this product is essential for a number of procedures. We are hopeful of quickly resolving this issue with the supplier.”
Australian Medical Association Queensland president Chris Perry said delays could impact hundreds of people in the Sunshine State.
“We are going to get, and currently have, shortages of multiple medical drugs and products,” he said.
“These shortages will continue until we have our own production facilities.
“We need to be able to produce most things, not just mRNA vaccines.”
Dr Perry said it was “another thing” the state’s stretched health system had to deal with. He said stock would arrive from Ireland, where it was also manufactured.
Contrast solution is used in many medical imaging tests including in CT scans, angiograms, angioplasty, cholangiograms, gastroenterology procedures, cancer care and some surgical procedures (vascular, general and urology).
A Queensland Health spokeswoman said each person’s situation was different and clinicians may determine that a different type of procedure or medical imaging could be suitable.
“A clinical team will again call the individual directly to speak with them about the best options for their particular healthcare needs,” she said.