Drug recall won't affect surgery: doctors

A national recall of two batches of the most widely-used anaesthesia drug probably won't effect scheduled surgery, doctors say.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration alerted public and private hospitals on Friday that two batches of the anaesthetic propofol could be contaminated with the bacteria Ralstonia pickettii.

But Australian Medical Association vice-president Professor Geoff Dobb says the recall probably won't affect surgery because there should be enough back-up supplies available.

He says drug companies will shift propofol stock and hospitals with plentiful supplies may be willing to share with other hospitals.

"We're fortunate that there's more than one supplier of this drug," Prof Dobb told AAP.

"We're hoping it will all be sorted out in two weeks at most".

Queensland Health told AAP the state had sourced alternative supplies of propofol, but was working to urgently secure more to avoid any cancellation of elective surgery.