COVID supply delays postpone Queensland health procedures
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
Queensland Health will postpone non-urgent elective medical imaging procedures due to a critical world-wide shortage of contrast solutions.
The delay will affect CT scans, angiography, and some other procedures.
The disruption is due to COVID-19 lockdowns in Shanghai, where the supplier’s production facility is located.
Queensland Health Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Services Executive Director, Kirstine Sketcher-Baker, said supply issues could last until June or beyond.
“Along with the Federal Government, we are also investigating other sourcing options and strategies to conserve stocks and seek other alternatives until this issue is resolved.
“For the time being, we will need to reschedule some non-urgent elective procedures that require medical imaging until we can replenish stocks.”
Hospitals will be contacting patients to reschedule procedures.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration said it’s aware of a global shortage of iodinated contrast media diagnostic agents and has recommended stocks be conserved.
The products are used to enhance imaging in a wide range of diagnostic procedures in adults and children.
