Supporting Continuity of Veterinary Care During Medicine Supply Disruption
Across Australia, veterinary medicine shortages and supply disruptions are increasingly affecting oncology, ophthalmology, and critical care in both large veterinary groups and standalone hospitals and clinics.
Practical pathways when medicines are unavailable
When routine supply is disrupted, the impact can be immediate. Oncology protocols often leave limited flexibility. Ophthalmology frequently relies on sterile or preservative-free preparations that can be difficult to substitute at short notice. In critical care, delays add pressure fast, and teams spend valuable time chasing alternatives while maintaining governance and patient safety.
What helps is having a clear, repeatable process, rather than scrambling each time. A controlled pathway should include confirming what is required and by when, supplier and manufacturer verification, documented receipt, quarantine and release processes, and batch-level traceability. Where temperature control is required, storage and distribution must remain within specification from receipt through to dispatch.
How HL Pharma supports continuity and compliant supply
HL Pharma is a licensed Australian pharmaceutical wholesaler that supports continuity of supply through compliant, TGA-authorised regulatory pathways when routine supply is unavailable. We support many veterinary hospitals and clinics across Australia through controlled processes designed to protect product integrity and support defensible clinical decision-making, including validated temperature-controlled storage and, where required, cold-chain distribution.
If you are managing a shortage now
If your practice or group is experiencing shortages, has specific supply requirements that cannot currently be met through routine registered channels, or would like to discuss contingency options for high-priority medicines used in veterinary oncology, critical care or ophthalmology, we welcome a discussion to see where we can help.
This content is directed at registered veterinary professionals and accredited healthcare facilities only. It does not constitute advice to consumers. HL Pharma supports the compliant management of medicine shortages, access pathways, and continuity of supply. Contact our team here to discuss your requirements.