Health
Supplies of essential chemotherapy drugs are running low and experts fear rationing could soon begin
By Isabel Keane,
Supplies of essential chemotherapy drugs are running low — and experts fear the situation could soon lead to rationing of cancer-treating medications, according to a report.
Doctors across the U.S. are seeing shortages due to shipping delays, manufacturing problems and some companies discontinuing medications, The New York Times reported, citing the Food and Drug Administration.
There’s a shortage of ifosfamide, an injection used to treat sarcomas, lymphomas and testicular cancers, prompting doctors to make tough decisions about which patients to treat with the medication.
“There are some individuals who won’t be able to receive this drug, even if it is the best option for them, which puts pharmacists, doctors, patients and families in a horrific situation,” Dr Andrew Shuman, a head and neck cancer surgeon, told The Times.
Dr Shuman, who practices in Michigan, says that doctors are giving the doses of the medication that are available to patients who are likely to see the biggest benefit. This means younger patients with a full chance of recovery are being prioritized, according to the report.
There is currently a shortage of essential chemotherapy drugs, prompting some doctors to prioritize some patients over others, according to a report
Premier, a company that negotiates discounts on drugs for hospitals and cancer clinics, has seen only 38 percent of their orders filled for ifosfamide.
Additionally, only about two-thirds of cisplatin, a drug to treat ovarian, testicular and bladder cancers, has been filled, according to the company’s vice president of integrated communications, Amanda Forster.
Instead of rationing, some medical practices have started spacing out the time
