Oncology Drug Shortages-What We Have Versus What We Expect to Have? A Critical Scenario of Pakistan

Abstract

Drug shortages in tertiary care hospitals always limit the health system's ability to provide quality care to the patients. Immediately following the existing shortage of 5 different oncology drugs in Pakistan, numerous patients are finding themselves in a desperate state of no cure for their illness. Cardinal factors responsible for this unfortunate situation include interruption in vendor supplies and regulatory authorities' issues related to approval and pricing. Effective review of policies by regulatory authorities for availability of drugs will certainly avoid this miserable condition in the future and ensure continuation of high-quality care to patients by health care systems.

Keywords: anticancer drugs; oncology drugs; shortages; tertiary care hospitals.