Medicine Shortage Alerts

Scripty is here to help you navigate medication shortages with ease. Our digital script wallet app makes managing your prescriptions simple and stress-free. With the “Medicine Shortage Alerts” feature, you’ll stay informed about medication supply issues across Australia, so you’re always prepared.

FAQS

What’s the Deal with Medicine Shortage Alerts?

Sometimes the medications we rely on become harder to find. To help you stay ahead, Scripty, the digital script wallet app flags any national-level medication supply issues, sourced from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Medicines Shortage Reports database. If your script is affected, you’ll see an alert right on your script, making it easier to prepare for pharmacy visits or chats with your doctor.

We highlight these different statuses on your script:

Short Supply: The medication is currently limited across Australia, but may still be available at some pharmacies. Sometimes, there is an anticipated shortage; for example, it may say something like "Short supply expected from 25/07/2025 to 31/10/2025."
Discontinued: The medication is no longer being supplied; however, there may still be stock available at some pharmacies until existing supplies are exhausted. Alternatives or generics may be available – chat with your healthcare professional. For example: "Discontinued. Limited supply available until 01/01/2026 or until supply runs out."
No Supply Issues: "No national medicine shortage reported." This could mean either there was never a supply issue, or that a previously reported shortage has been resolved.

You’ll find these statuses in your script details, along with key dates and important info. Just remember, this is national TGA Medicines Shortage Reports database, so it doesn’t show if your local pharmacy has stock.

Please note: We have simplified the information provided in the Medicines Shortage Reports Database to help you understand the "National Supply Availability" status at a glance. For more detailed information about the impact or underlying causes of any shortage, we recommend visiting the TGA medicine shortage website and its database.

According to the TGA:

"Medicine sponsors must tell the TGA if there is not enough medicine to supply normal demand in Australia within the next six months. The TGA publishes shortages of prescription and some non-prescription medicines in its medicine shortage reports database. All shortages of critical patient impact are published. Critical patient impact means the shortage may have a life-threatening or serious effect and there is unlikely to be sufficient supply of substitutes. Most shortages of low or medium patient impact are also published. Low or medium impact means there is likely to be sufficient supply of alternative medicines. Some shortages of over-the-counter medicines you use may not be included in the database."

What is displayed in Scripty, the digital script wallet app is meant to give you a quick overview of the National Supply Availability, but if you need comprehensive details, please refer to the TGA’s resources.

Danielle doesn’t stress about medicine shortages anymore

She remembers how frustrating it was to leave the pharmacy empty-handed, only to find out her medication was out of stock across the country. Now, with advance alerts, she feels more in control and can have better, easier conversations with her doctor.

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Be Prepared, Not Panicked

We know it’s stressful when your medication status changes, but there’s no need to panic – or stockpile. Here’s how to keep things simple:

Check Scripty, the digital script wallet app for Updates – Refresh your Scripty, the digital script wallet app, to see the latest supply info. We use the TGA’s National Medicine Shortage Reports database, so you’re always up-to-date. We’ll provide a link to the TGA's webpage for that medication, so you can access more information.
Talk to Your Healthcare Professional – If you spot an alert, have a chat with your doctor or pharmacist. They know how to help with alternatives or next steps.
Stay Cool – Don’t Stockpile – Overordering just makes things trickier for everyone. Even in shortage, a pharmacy might still have what you need.

What’s Next for Medicines Shortage Alerts?

Right now, you’ll see shortage statuses for your prescriptions inside Scripty, the digital script wallet app. But we’re making it even better by adding:

Push notifications to alert you when your medications go into short supply, out of stock, discontinued, or when the shortage is resolved. Knowing when a shortage is resolved can help you plan ahead, even if you don’t need the medication immediately.
Custom notification settings so you can choose which alerts you want to receive (shortages only, resolved status, or both) – or turn them off if you’d prefer not to get notified.

This feature operates independently and is not a direct integration with the TGA.

Medicine Shortage Alerts FAQs

How much does it cost to use Scripty?

Scripty is free of charge to use. It's also ad-free!
What do you mean by "safely connected to Australia's eScript system?"

Our connection to Australia's eScript system – National Prescription Delivery Service is facilitated by Medication Knowledge. This connection is more than just technical; it represents our adherence to high standards of data handling, privacy, security, and eScript management as mandated by the Australian Digital Health Agency and the Department of Health and Aged Care. To achieve this level of integration, Scripty underwent a rigorous conformance assessment process. This means we've proven our software complies with the strict guidelines and standards set by these governing bodies, ensuring a secure and trustworthy environment for managing your electronic prescriptions. In simpler terms, being a "conformant software" signifies that we've met all necessary criteria to access, handle, and protect your prescription data safely. This conformity not only allows us to connect to the nation's eScript system but also gives you peace of mind knowing your prescription information is handled responsibly and securely. You can find our Scripty app on the ePrescribing external conformance register.
Is my data secure?

Scripty comes with the kind of security and reliability that everyone deserves. The data stored on your device is always encrypted when Scripty is not in-use, optionally further protected by in-app biometric lock. Any data sent between your device and Scripty's cloud services uses state-of-the-art end-to-end encryption to keep it safe in transit. Scripty's cloud services - hosted only in Australia - further encrypt any data stored while not in use, find out more on our security page and if you still have questions, get in touch.
Are my scripts tied to a Pharmacy?

Not at all. These scripts are yours – you can present your scripts to any Pharmacy of your choice.
How do I order my scripts directly with my Pharmacy via Scripty?

Scripty makes it easy to place orders at your pharmacy, whether in-store or online. Here’s how you can send your orders: 1. Order Using QR Codes: Navigate to the 'Order' section in the app. Select all required scripts, and their QR codes will be displayed. These QR codes are ready to be scanned by your pharmacist when you visit the store. 2. Online Ordering: In the 'Order' section, select your pharmacy from the provided list. This list includes pharmacies that can receive orders via the Scripty app. If your pharmacy is not listed, they might not yet be familiar with Scripty, or they may not have the compatible software required to process orders from the app. It's also possible that the pharmacy list is out of date as the pharmacy may have changed supported systems and may have not contacted Scripty to update their details.
How do I add scripts?

You can add scripts to Scripty in a number of ways. By tapping on your script token URL which should launch Scripty (make sure you've downloaded Scripty!) Within the Scripty app, you can manually input a token Use our handy 'Smart Import' to add images/screenshots of scripts Connecting to your My Script List, which will retrieve all your active scripts. Learn more here Scripty doesn't support adding in pictures of your paper scripts.
Do I need an activation code to get started?

No, no activation code from any pharmacy is required to set up your Scripty account. Simply choose your social login (Google or Apple) – it's one less password to remember!
Is my personal information shared with Google or Apple when I sign up?

Absolutely not. Signing up with Google or Apple does not mean we share your personal details with them. The only information we obtain is your name and email address as it appears on your account.