Media contributions
1Media contributions
Title Middle East war forces pharmaceutical companies to reroute critical medicines to ensure Australian supply Degree of recognition National Media name/outlet ABC News Media type Web Country/Territory Australia Date 18/03/26 Description
Medicines Australia says pharmaceutical companies are redirecting critical medicines to ensure they arrive in Australia.
As well as the route closures, health industry stakeholders across the world are also concerned about the impact of other flow-on effects from the war.
The federal government says it is closely monitoring medicines supply chains.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Quality Care committee chair, Mark Morgan, said supply constraints placed a significant burden on those affected.
"Our patients are very concerned about the impact of medicines supply — but not just about the cost," Professor Morgan said.
"There are few things more important to a person than maintaining their health, and there are few things more concerning than potentially losing access to a medicine you have been advised to take for your health."
Professor Morgan said more could be done to make Australia's supply chain more resilient, including by making more medicines locally.
"We're lucky to have systems in place that maintain the quality and access to medicines in Australia, but there are issues and room for improvement. We seem to have medication shortages far too often," he said.
"We have limited onshore medicine manufacturing, and we also fall behind on adequate warehousing. A thriving local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry would mitigate some of the supply risks."Producer/Author Stephanie Dalzell URL https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-18/middle-east-war-medicines-supply-costs/106465132 Persons Mark Morgan