Health Canada has temporarily shut down a drug supplier that provides a drug treatment for cancer patients. A hospital north of Toronto has had to delay treatments for patients because of the drug shortage.
This shortage is currently occurring at Mackenzie Health in Richmond Hill, where 35 patients have been denied their regularly scheduled treatment because of the drug not being available. This drug, known as Fluorouracil is used and distributed by the supplier to about 55 per cent of the country – British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario to name a few.
Fortunately, there are two more suppliers that have the drug, Sandoz and Hospira, but they are both back ordered. This drug is used in a variety of cancer treatments for breast, colon, head, neck and some skin malignancies.
A cancer patient in Vaughan, Ontario, Carmen Sebastian does not understand why there is no contingency plan in place for situations such as a drug shortage. In an article by CTV News, she mentions that over a voicemail she was told that her next appointment was cancelled because of this drug shortage, and that she was worried as cancer can move quickly – without the treatment it increases the risk of it spreading. In a follow up phone call, Carmen was told the hospital had "no idea" when the will receive more stock, or if they will be receiving any at all. Carmen suffers from stage 4 colon cancer, is 68 years old and was told she only has a few years left to live.
Currently, suppliers are looking for alternative drugs to supply, while they try to get approval to ship out more of the Fluorouracil. The initial stoppage of shipments was due to vials leaking during shipment from India.
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