Temporary medication shortage relevant to s100 prescribers

Executive Director, Communicable Diseases Branch at Queensland Health Dr Heidi Carroll has provided the below message, relevant to all s100 prescribers.

Queensland Health is aware of a temporary national shortage of TD*/FTC (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil) based combinations, which are commonly used for HIV PrEP and PEP as reported by the Therapeutic Goods Administration on the Medicine Shortage Reports Database. The database indicates some products have an approved Section 19A alternative, and Queensland Health is working with the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care to better understand the availability of this stock.

There have been reports of pharmacies in Brisbane being unable to fill PrEP prescriptions.

If your patients are having difficult accessing PrEP, they may be directed to PrEPaccessNOW which provides practical information to consumers on managing the temporary PrEP shortage and links to buying PrEP online.

The Communicable Diseases Branch is aware of specialised online pharmacies who have advised have adequate PrEP supplies. The branch encourages pharmacists and prescribers to direct consumers to online options if they are having trouble accessing stock at their usual pharmacy.

Queensland Health has circulated further advice to community pharmacies, recommending PrEP prescribing is limited to one month's supply at a time, unless there is evidence the consumer is going overseas for a period of time exceeding one month.