Australia’s only IV fluids maker gets gov boost

The Federal Government is pouring $20 million into IV fluids maker, Baxter Healthcare, to expand its manufacturing capability.

Baxter, the only onshore manufacturer of IV fluids, will use the funds to expand its production facility in Western Sydney, bolstering Australia’s sovereign healthcare manufacturing capabilities.

The healthcare manufacturer is matching the funding with its own $20 million investment, helping to expand its production by about 20 million IV bags. This will help ensure that from 2027, 80 million can be produced annually.

This is significant as Australia began to see an IV fluids shortage in early 2023, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration forecasting a global shortage ahead.

“Our investment will now cover IV demand for Australia and we will no longer be hostage to overseas supply,” Federal 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.

“It means more jobs, more bags of IV fluid, and less dependence on overseas production.”