Europe's Cancer Drugs shortage is hurting patients

Hospital pharmacies across Europe are reporting difficulties getting hold of a range of commonly used cancer drugs, including 5-fluorouracil, carboplatin, cisplatin, doxo-rubicin, etoposide, melphalan, methotrexate, oxaliplatin and vincristine. Medicines used for pain relief including morphine are also reported to be in short supply in some countries. The problem has only recently come to light thanks to a survey carried out by the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP), which was sent to 600 hospital pharmacies across 36 countries. Although there were significant differences between European countries in the frequency and nature of shortages experienced, none were spared this problem. Denmark, Iceland, Malta, Romania and the UK all reported that medicines shortages are a daily occurrence. Only 14% of respondents said they never had trouble getting hold of vital medicines, while 66% reported this as a daily or weekly problem. Cancer drugs were ranked as the second most commonly affected area for shortages (55% of respondents) after anti-microbials (57%). Difficulties and delays in getting hold of the right cancer drugs can seriously damage patient care. Medicines shortages lead to delayed or interrupted treatment, or dose reductions, which can have life-threatening consequences. The use of an alternative medicine increases the likelihood of a medication error and can result in the patient experiencing unnecessary side-effects. There is also a cost associated with the time hospital pharmacists have to spend in sourcing and procuring an alternative medicine, which is often more expensive than the one originally prescribed. The EAHP is now calling for a more reliable cataloguing of medicines in short supply across Europe, comparable to the list recently established by the EMA’s American counterpart, the FDA, which details the reasons for, and possible duration of, drug shortages, as well as suggesting potential alternatives. Such a list would provide health professionals with the information necessary to anticipate and manage the problem.