Continued the debate
McIntosh argued that the bill provided useful mechanisms for earlier notification of medicine discontinuations and simplified regulatory processes for similar biologic products. However, McIntosh contended that the legislation did not resolve the underlying structural issues causing frequent medicine shortages in Australia. McIntosh highlighted that Australia relies heavily on imported medicines, making the supply chain vulnerable to global disruptions and manufacturing delays. The speaker noted that despite existing reporting requirements, the number of approved substitute medicines had increased significantly, indicating systemic strain. McIntosh asserted that a warning system alone was insufficient without a broader strategy to enhance domestic manufacturing capability.