IV fluid crisis: Medical societies report ‘no worst-case scenario’, yet concerns persist

Concerns regarding potential shortages of intravenous (IV) fluids in Australia have prompted action at the clinical levels, with Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) meeting with representatives of the National Response Group to monitor the situation.

While the severity of shortages varies by region, fears of widespread shortages have caused concern across the country. However, according to ANZCA President Professor David Story and ASA President Dr Mark Sinclair, the worst-case scenario has not materialised.

“We now believe there are no critical shortages. No widespread cancellations of elective procedures have been required, as was feared earlier on,” they said in a joint statement.

“Nevertheless, anaesthetists are being asked to consider the need for perioperative IV fluids on a patient-by-patient basis, and to be judicious in their use.”

In addition, alternative approaches, such as reducing fasting times with “SipTilSend” protocols, are being suggested to help avoid perioperative dehydration.

Recognising the potential challenges in implementing these protocols for the first time, ANZCA and ASA have expressed their readiness to provide guidance and support to hospitals as needed.

The National Response Group has assured medical professionals that every effort is being made to improve the supply of IV fluids.

Baxter Healthcare is expanding its manufacturing plant and increasing imports from overseas to address the demand. The federal government anticipates that these measures will boost supply by 22 million units over the next six months, outpacing demand and preventing the situation from reaching a critical stage.

However, not everyone is convinced. Dr Priyabrata Chowdhury, supply chain expert from RMIT University said “While these initiatives will address the current immediate supply shortage of IV fluids, they do not fully resolve the underlying problems.

“Future shortages of IV fluids or other critical healthcare products may arise due to supply chain disruptions. To address this issue effectively, Australia needs to build a resilient supply chain for critical healthcare products, including IV fluids. But are we involving supply chain experts to address this?”

Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston has also sharply criticised the government’s handling of the situation.

“It is disappointing that the Minister continues to mislead the Australian public. The government had more than 12 months’ notice of an impending shortage, and no other country around the world has experienced supply issues on the same scale as Australia,” she said.

Senator Ruston accused the government of creating a crisis that has directly impacted Australian patients, stating, “There is nothing ‘unexpected’ or ‘global’ about this shortage. This has been a crisis of the government’s own making.”

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