Advocacy in Action

RANZCR’s Rapid Response to Supply Chain Shortfall

When Australian supplies of iodinated contrast media (contrast) were affected by the prolonged Shanghai lockdown earlier this year, it threw a spotlight on the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains and reinforced the role the College plays in advocating for, and supporting, members to navigate such challenges.

The manufacturing plant of GE Healthcare, the primary supplier of contrast, was a casualty of the lockdown, prompting a global shortage of Omnipaque and Visipaque, both of which are typically used in more than 50 per cent of CT imaging and are critical for patient care.

A rapid response was vital to avert the potential impacts of a prolonged shortage on patient safety. The College swiftly initiated a comprehensive strategy, providing time-sensitive communications and detailed advice to members and practices.

The College issued a position statement based on recommendations by the American College of Radiology and the best available international evidence, providing clear and concise guidance on how to conserve supplies of contrast to manage the shortfall.

Meanwhile, the College leveraged its professional relationships with key bodies including the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Pharmac and GE Healthcare to source alternative supplies of contrast and expedite its availability in Australia and New Zealand, while ensuring that members were kept informed through regular updates.

The quick and decisive actions of the College were pivotal in mitigating the effects of the shortage on members, practices and consumers.

This is just one example of the many ways in which the College advocates for and represents the diverse needs and interests of its members to achieve the best outcomes for the professions.

While this advocacy work mostly occurs behind the scenes, these relationships are absolutely critical in situations which demand a rapid response, clear communication and in this instance, federal intervention to approve alternative supplies of contrast in a timely manner.

This is only possible through the College’s ongoing work in building relationships of mutual respect with all of our stakeholders, where RANZCR is a trusted partner, whose advice is valued and heeded.

This speaks to the intrinsic value of a representative body able to effectively advocate on behalf of the professions to government, industry and other stakeholders, promote the needs of members and meet the many challenges and opportunities as they arise.

In its advocacy work, the College regularly engages with a wide variety of stakeholders in clinical radiology and radiation oncology at both the micro- and macro- levels, with the overarching aim of informing and influencing policy, promoting professional and practice standards and ensuring quality services for consumers.

The benefits are clear, advocacy facilitates access to the best people, the best information and best advice when it matters most—to individual members, practices and the professions as a whole.