Help strengthen the RACP’s voice and share your expertise on the TGA Medicines Shortages Action Group.

Nick Henderson, First Assistant Secretary of the Medicines Regulation Division, will chair the group and has invited the RACP to participate. This follows our ongoing advocacy and engagement with the TGA on medicines shortages in 2024 (PDF) and 2025 (PDF).

The Action Group will connect with the TGA’s existing issue-specific Medicine Shortages Action Groups and the Medicines Availability Working Group. We're seeking members from a range of subspecialties to ensure diverse representation.

As a representative, you’ll work closely with our Policy & Advocacy team to support the TGA’s Medicines Shortage Reform Program, which aims to improve how shortages are monitored, managed and communicated in Australia.

Key objectives

• update the TGA’s medicine shortages framework to better meet public information needs
• identify improvements to data and digital systems
• improve access to shortages information for health professionals
• help sponsors make better predictions about medicine demand and shortages

The meeting schedule will be confirmed by the TGA. All meetings will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. 

Assessment criteria

• commitment to advancing the College’s policy positions and advocacy goals on medicines shortages
• understanding of the impacts of medicines shortages and discontinuations, whether at the system, physician, practice or patient level, in a specific RACP subspecialty or more broadly
• demonstrated experience in addressing medicines shortages or scarcity issues in clinical practice
• availability to participate in virtual meetings (sometimes at short notice) on a pro bono basis over a medium term
• willingness to collaborate, engage and debrief with the RACP Policy & Advocacy team and other appointed College representatives on the Medicines Shortages Action Group to strengthen College input and impact

Appointed representatives will also be required to sign Australian Federal Government Deed Polls for Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality as a condition of participation.

Apply

Complete the expression of interest form (DOC) and send your CV and documents to policy@racp.edu.au.

Contact Peter Lalli, Senior Policy & Advocacy Officer, via policy@racp.edu.au for any questions or follow-ups.