Queensland hospitals have been forced to postpone some non-urgent elective procedures due to a worldwide shortage of contrast solutions required for a range of medical imaging.
The iodinated contrast mediums are used in computerised tomography (CT) scans and other imaging, including angiography, used to diagnose and treat conditions such as blockages and abnormalities in blood vessels.
Remaining stocks of the intravenous dyes were being kept for emergency procedures.
A shortage of the products, marketed as Omnipaque and Visipaque, stems from COVID-19 lockdowns in Shanghai, China, where much of the world supply was made.
Queensland Health Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Services executive director Kirstine Sketcher-Baker said the shortage was not expected to be resolved until the end of June at the earliest.
"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."
Ms Sketcher-Baker said Queensland Health was working with its hospitals to determine what impact the shortage was having on clinical services.
"For the time being, we will need to reschedule some non-urgent elective procedures that require medical imaging until we can replenish stocks," she said.
"This is unfortunate but unavoidable, as this product is essential for a number of procedures.
"We are hopeful of quickly resolving this issue with the supplier."
Affected patients will be contacted by their treating hospitals.
