Every year since 2012, on average 10% of drugs used in oncology are subject to shortages. A problem is worsening from year to year, as recalled by the League against cancer which notes, one year after launching a first information campaign on the subject, that sick people are still suffering the consequences of recurrent drug shortages. . Also, to breathe new life into the mobilization, the League is launching a new alert campaign with a new message: “It seems that hope gives life … drugs, that’s for sure!“
This campaign, which will be relayed on social networks, will be accompanied by the release ofae comic, made with l‘illustrator Anna Lentzner, Who restores testimonials of people affected by shortages of cancer drugs collected by the League during the first phase of the mobilization against the shortages, thanks to a call for witnesses. This comic can be downloaded here.
A shortage responsible for a loss of opportunity for the sick
The observation made by the League is alarming:
- 74 % of professionals surveyed declare having faced cancer drug shortages during their career
- 3/4 of them have the feeling of a worsening of the situation over the last ten years
- 75 % of health professionals say the shortages have led to loss of chances for their patients
How to explain these shortages and their worsening? Asked in September 2020 about Europe 1, a few months before his death, Alex Kahn, former president of the League against Cancer, explained: “the mechanism is very simple: very important, fundamental drugs have fallen into the public domain (…) and the prices go down. But as the prices decrease, obviously the laboratories no longer have a great commercial interest in selling them: they have them manufactured at a lower cost. (…) in India and China. Often there is only one manufacturer of the molecule for the whole world. (…) However, when a production batch experiences a glitch, it must be completely destroyed and this is a shortage that can last several months. It is quite dramatic: a patient who lives only thanks to treatment (…) go to the hospital and we say to him “sir, we are sorry, we are out of stock and we do not know when there will be.” (…) the bladder cancer in mild forms, for example, is treated with two products (…). These two products were out of stock: as a result, patients saw their cancer evolve, invade the wall, and it was necessary to intervene and remove the bladder. (…) It is totally dramatic.“
In his turn, Daniel Nizri, new president of the League insists: “How? ‘Or’ What ensure continuity of care for all sick people with the same efficiency if the‘we are faced with recurring drug shortages ? How can-we explain to these people, who already fight against the disease on a daily basis, that their medicine does not‘is not available? On their behalf, the League continues the fight “.
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