THE shortage of IV fluids will continue through 2025, says Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu.
In Parliament yesterday, Dr Lalabalavu said this was one of the reasons Government, through the Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services (FPBS), was working tirelessly to ensure stock lasts until the end of the year.
“FPBS aligns itself with the Australian Government’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in terms of regulation of quality assurance,” said Dr Lalabalvu.
“TGA is the governments authority responsible for evaluating, assessing and monitoring goods defined as therapeutic goods.
“On March 4, 2025, TGA issued a statement that a global shortage of IV fluid is to be expected which will continue through to 2025 and the main suppliers to the Pacific being B.Braun, Braxter and Fresenius.”
Dr Lalabalavu said the shortages were caused by various factors.
“The shortages affect multiple bags of Sodium Chloride with 0.9 per cent and compound Sodium lactate (Hartmans Solution) products.
“The shortages are due to multiple factors such as global supply chain limitations, unexpected increase in demand and manufacturing issues.”
He said while stocks have been replenished with a procurement of 350,000 units of IV fluids, there was also conservation strategies being implemented.
“There’s also been conservation strategy applied through the clinical services at all health facility levels with shortages and we will continue to monitor this in relation to the international market global shortages,” Dr Lalabalavu said.
