16 April 2025
Paediatricians are receiving frantic calls from parents concerned about their children’s mental, physical and emotional state should they be unable to get their ADHD medication, as further shortages are predicted.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), which represents paediatricians, is calling for a national strategy to tackle medication shortages, which have also impacted antibiotics, IV fluids, diabetes drugs and more.
Last year, ADHD medication Vyvanse was in short supply for several months and a current nationwide shortage of another long-acting ADHD medication, Concerta, is predicted to last until the end of the year.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently released an alert announcing that other ADHD medications, including long-acting Ritalin, are also expected to be in shortage soon.
Professor Nitin Kapur, President of the RACP’s Paediatric and Child Health Division, said the news has alarmed paediatricians.
“Parents have already been beside themselves worrying what will happen if they can’t get their children’s medication,” Professor Kapur said.
“These medications can be critical for children to focus, concentrate and learn, particularly in school. For children with significant behavioural challenges, these medications are an essential part of keeping them safe at both school and home.
“For young people, ADHD medications are critical for their safety, especially when driving. Teenagers and young adults with ADHD are advised to take their medications to help prevent motor vehicle accidents.
“Of course, as physicians we have strategies to manage these situations but it does make things really hard for patients, families and doctors alike.”
RACP President Professor Jennifer Martin said the latest ADHD medication shortage was yet another wake-up call on the need to tackle Australia’s broader medicine shortage crisis.
“As we head into an election, all parties need to have a plan to tackle medicine shortages, especially in the face of global uncertainty,” Professor Martin said.
“Some things are beyond Australia’s control but there are things we can be doing here and now to ensure Australians have the medications they need to stay healthy.”
The RACP has been calling for:
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Medication manufacturers and sponsors to advise the TGA of a shortage or discontinuation and expected end date well in advance of the shortage or discontinuation.
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A list of critical, life sustaining medications in Australia to be developed and minimum stock levels maintained for potential national public health crises. Local production of medications to be stimulated and incentivised.
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International suppliers of medicines critical to the health of Australians to be encouraged to enter and remain within the Australian market through TGA-driven incentives.
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System-wide and nationally coordinated approach among supply chain partners and the Government to reduce the risk of medicine shortages through the use of artificial intelligence technologies such as big data analytics.
Read RACP’s March 2024 and January 2025 submissions to TGA consultations on medicine shortages.