Prescription drug shortage impacts cancer patients
by
Jordan Shefte
Story Created:
Jan 18, 2012 at 6:55 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jan 18, 2012 at 8:00 PM CDT
Being diagnosed with cancer presents a number of challenges.
But imagine not being able to obtain the drugs needed for the treatment of your diagnoses.
It's a scary thought, but a reality these days for cancer patients across the country.
It's all because of a current drug shortage.
News 5's Jordan Shefte talked with St. Francis oncology providers Wednesday. They said that there are a number of reasons for the shortage. But in the end, it's a problem that could mean the difference between life and death.
"If an adjuvant chemotherapy drug is missing, is short, and if we cannot deliver it, it's a life threatening problem," said Medical Director of Oncology Dr. Sitki Copur.
It's an issue medical oncologists across the country are facing.
"Overall a lot of the drugs, I would say between fifteen and twenty right now we're having trouble acquiring adequate supplies for our patients," Obermiller Pharmacy Supervisor Angie Obermiller.
It's because generic drugs aren't as profitable for pharmaceutical companies. And, only three companies produce them, which raises concerns of safety, cost, and availability.
"The generic drugs that we primarily use are the workhorses behind those treatments and so if we aren't able to obtain those to treat our patients, the patients are the ones who will suffer," said Obermiller.
Another reason for the shortage is more money for generic drugs outside the US.
"There's more access in Europe and Africa to and Asia to oncology drugs and that has also pulled away all available drugs from the market to send them to overseas, that drug companies to make more profit on them," said Dr. Copur.
The shortage is having a negative impact on clinical trials. If doctors aren't able to receive the intended dosage, the entire trial could be adversely effected.
"That would be much more costly than anything else because of the time and money and investment of science will be jeopardized," Dr. Copur said.
Also, the shortage has some oncologists turning to dangerous practices to obtain the drugs.
"There has grown a gray market with the drug shortages and sometimes across the country oncology practices may end up obtaining the medications through gray market and there are issues about their safety and efficiency and that's another effect on the patients unfortunately," said Dr. Copur.
St. Francis Cancer Treatment Center has not had to deny any patients medicine yet. But they said that a technician spends hours a day on the phone to make sure the medical center can obtain supplies.
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