Australia invests in manufacturing capability for IV fluids

The Australian Government has announced a $20 million investment to expand Australia’s only onshore manufacturer of IV (intravenous) fluids — the Baxter Healthcare production facility in Western Sydney. It has also been announced that Baxter Healthcare will match the investment with $20 million of its own, to expand local IV fluid production by at least 20 million units.

A shortage of IV fluids began to be seen in Australia in early 2023, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration predicting that global supply issues are likely to continue during 2025. The medical supply of IV fluids is of critical importance for surgical operations and hospital care, among other medical uses, and the investment will ensure that from 2027, 80 million units are produced each year.

“Our investment will now cover IV demand for Australia and we will no longer be hostage to overseas supply,” Australia’s Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said. “Baxter Healthcare’s facility has been an important part of manufacturing in Western Sydney for 50 years, and this investment will help it expand to produce another 20 million IV fluid bags every year.”

This investment in Australia’s sovereign capability in IV fluid production is part of a broader program of work to secure supply of this critical hospital medicine. This broader program of work includes a clinical review of the use of IV fluids in Australia to ensure the best use of them. It also includes establishing a panel of suppliers to help reduce any future shortfalls.

Image credit: iStock.com/Sean Anthony Eddy