Circular 23 March 2026: Rifabutin 150mg Capsules Supply Constraints – Interim Therapeutic Alternatives
The Primary Healthcare (PHC) and Adult Hospital Level (AHL) Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) and Essential Medicines List (EML) currently recommend the use of rifabutin 150mg capsules for select indications in the management of TB disease and mycobacterium avium complex infection. There is a reported supply constraint with rifabutin 150mg capsules. The Affordable Medicines Directorate has ini
The Primary Healthcare (PHC) and Adult Hospital Level (AHL) Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) and Essential Medicines List (EML) currently recommend the use of rifabutin 150mg capsules for select indications in the management of TB disease and mycobacterium avium complex infection. There is a reported supply constraint with rifabutin 150mg capsules.
The Affordable Medicines Directorate has initiated the process for bulk Section 21 approval. Until such time that oral rifabutin can be procured through the Section 21 process, interim guidance for managing supply constraints in the short to medium term is included in the document below as alternatives for the respective EML indications of rifabutin: