Melbourne woman Anna McKay has been taking the drug for more than 10 years for pain from cauda equina syndrome, which is caused by compression of a bundle of spinal nerves.
She feared what her life would be like if she didn’t have access to medication.
Ordeen is also given to people dying of cancer and those suffering from other life-limiting conditions, including children, to reduce pain and breathing problems.
Jodi Adams’ little girl, Cosette, was given the drug shortly before her death at just five years old.
The mother, 48, from Croydon, New South Wales, said her daughter was able to take her last breath without suffering because she had consulted a doctor before administering the drug.
The Australian Government has released updated information on fresh produce supplies.
Another company will take over manufacturing of the drug, which will soon be available to patients.
“Arotex Pharmaceuticals has announced that it will take over the sponsorship of the Ordin (morphine) oral liquid product,” the government said.
“While shortages of these products will continue in the short term, Alotex expects to return to normal supplies later this year.”
Palliative care advocates have called on the government to find alternative providers and cut red tape to give patients more affordable access.
They said this update was “good news” but that a similar situation was playing out with other drugs.
He called for drug companies to be required to give at least six months’ notice of discontinuing production.
Josh Fear, national policy director for Palliative Care Australia, said: “We are seeing further increases in discontinuation of the other three pain medications commonly used by palliative patients and palliative care clinicians over the next year or so. It is expected that it will become unusable.”
“As global supply chains change and pharmaceutical companies make commercial decisions that determine whether to guarantee continuity of supply, these repeated announcements raise concerns about whether patients will have access to these important medicines. There are concerns.
“We could also consider manufacturing some of these drugs locally.
“Australia is the world’s second largest producer of morphine raw materials, so it may make economic sense to manufacture these drugs in Australia.”
