Doctors have been urged to consider severe shortages of hormone replacement therapy patches before starting new patients on the crucial treatment in a bid to preserve supply. Health professionals say it's not a long-term fix to the long-running problem which is leaving some women in near-constant anxiety and distress.
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00:00The wellness of others is central to Ashley Ward's livelihood, but her own health is much
00:09harder to maintain.
00:10I'm very foggy, I can't hold onto a thought properly.
00:14My health suffers, the hot flashes become very erratic.
00:20After having a radical hysterectomy to stop the spread of ovarian cancer last year, the
00:2533-year-old mother of two was effectively flung into menopause overnight.
00:30HRT patches dramatically improve Ashley's symptoms, but she spends much of her time
00:36desperately searching for them.
00:38I'm in this constant state of worry and anxiety and pressure to find them for myself, so calling
00:44chemist after chemist.
00:46HRT patch shortages have been an ongoing issue, currently affecting more than a dozen different
00:52products, and some aren't expected to return to normal supply levels for another year.
00:57To help preserve what is available, the Therapeutic Goods Administration is advising doctors to
01:02think twice before starting new patients on the patches.
01:07It's deeply frustrating and obviously we need solutions so that women have the full spectrum
01:11of options available to them for their menopause hormone therapy.
01:15The medical regulator has temporarily approved multiple patches from overseas, and is allowing
01:21pharmacists to substitute HRT medicines without a new script.
01:25It's quite a stressful kind of experience having to explain an alternative product as
01:30opposed to just being able to supply something or order something in.
01:33It's quite a demanding process.
01:35Persistent shortages of medicines commonly used in women's health are a serious issue.
01:40Health authorities say while they're working to manage the shortage, they can't compel
01:44pharmaceutical companies to boost supply or manufacture medicines in Australia.
01:49But while solutions may not be simple, they're essential to achieving equitable health outcomes
01:55for all Australians.