DR Michelle Gold, President of the Australia New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine, highlights the distress caused by a shortage of morphine-based medicines in Australia, affecting end-of-life patients. Six essential pain-relieving medications have been withdrawn, forcing doctors to use less effective alternatives. Despite notifying the government, little action has been taken. This shortage disproportionately impacts private and rural patients, with some medications becoming prohibitively expensive. ANZSPM advocates for PBS listing of substitute medicines to ensure equitable access.
17September2024