A nationwide shortage of cancer drugs cisplatin and carboplatin has Michigan hospitals asking state and federal government leaders for help.
Manufacturing delays at several pharmaceutical companies are causing the nationwide shortages of the two critical chemotherapy medications, which are used to treat several types of cancer, including bladder, lung, ovarian and testicular cancers.
As a result, Michigan hospitals and health systems are forced to find alternative treatments for patients, some of which may be less effective, the Michigan Health & Hospital Association said.
“The MHA is in communication with our members of Congress to make them aware of the extent of the drug shortage and any potential solutions,” said John Karasinski, MHA’s senior director of communications, who noted that the MHA would like to see both the state and federal governments implement strategies to help ease the crisis.
The Michigan State Medical Society also called for urgent action to address the shortage, saying the “escalating scarcity” of the two drugs “is reaching a tipping point with each passing day.”
Dr. M. Salim Siddiqui, president of the Society who has personally witnessed the devastating effect on cancer, said the Society is urging Michigan officials to “meticulously assess regions within the state that are most susceptible to chemotherapy shortages and the subsequent impact on health care professionals and their patients.” He wants that information shared with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Drug Shortages and he said incentives encouraging manufacturers to ramp up production is needed.
A survey of medical oncologists published in the New England Journal of Medicine found 83% were unable to prescribe their preferred chemotherapy agent due to shortages.
In Michigan, to reduce the impact of shortages on patients, hospitals are trying different solutions, including managing the existing supply, seeking alternative sources for drugs in short supply, adjusting chemotherapy regimens for impacted patients and working with healthcare systems, as well as state and federal officials, to mitigate these challenges.
Strategies the MHA supports include:
– Relaxing prior authorization requirements from health insurers for alternative therapies so they can be widely used, as appropriate;
– Establishing an early warning system to help avoid or minimize drug shortages;
– Removing regulatory obstacles faced by manufacturers and the FDA as a way of averting or mitigating drug shortages and allowing drug imports;
– Improving communication with healthcare providers, including extent and timeliness of information; and
– Exploring incentives to encourage drug manufacturers to stay in, re-enter or initially enter the market.
The MSMS also advocates for a “comprehensive coordinated effort” to address the current drug shortage as well as the underlying systemic issues contributing to the crisis.
“It is imperative to gain a more profound understanding of the intricate drug supply chain, comprehensively evaluating every step from raw material sourcing to production quality,” Siddiqui said.
Both cisplatin and carboplatin are provided by healthcare providers as injections to oncology patients.
The shortage of cisplatin was originally reported to the FDA in February, while carboplatin was reported in April. Both shortage durations are expected to last at least into June.
“The priority of hospitals is delivering the right care to every patient, every time,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “Drug shortages severely hamper a hospital’s ability to provide patients with the best treatment, while forcing hospitals to implement strategies that may increase the cost of care and sometimes do not offer the same effectiveness in treatment.”
This story courtesy of MIRS, a Lansing-based news and information service.