Big Pharma to stockpile 500 generic drugs to combat shortages
The deal will give the Federal Government more time to secure alternatives in the event of long-term supply issues
Drug companies will have to keep up to six months’ supply of low-cost generic PBS medicines in Australia under a deal with the Federal Government to prevent shortages.
The agreement with Medicines Australia means that, from 2023, maintaining an onshore stockpile will become a condition of PBS listing for drugs under certain PBS price thresholds.
Adrenaline auto-injectors, metformin and sertraline are among the medicines to have been hit by serious shortages in recent years.
Speaking on Tuesday, Minister for Health Greg Hunt said more than 500 medicines that had experienced shortages would be stockpiled under the measures.
