Morphine shortage across New Zealand impacting patients in palliative care, new stock months away [Video]

A country-wide shortage of morphine is impacting those in palliative care, while more stock could be months away.

The daughter of a woman who is dying from stage four lung cancer says her mother is in considerable pain and she is “appalled” by the drug shortage.

Crown entity Pharmac confirmed it is expecting gaps in the supply of morphine oral liquid this month.

“Unfortunately, there will be times in April when morphine oral liquid will be unavailable,” Pharmac said on its website.

“We are encouraging clinicians to consider treatment alternatives now to preserve morphine oral liquid for people who need it the most.”

The availability of morphine oral liquid varies by location, Pharmac said.

Jennie McKeown said her mother has stage four lung cancer and hasn’t been able to get morphine to help with her pain.

“I first heard in late February from my mother’s hospice nurse explaining why my …