Three chemotherapy drugs that are rated 鈥榣ow鈥� in profitability for pharmaceutical producers are facing shortages across Canada.
Vinorelbine, which treats lung and breast cancer, Leucovorin, which helps decrease the toxic effects of other cancer drugs, and Etoposide, which treats lung and testicular cancer, have been listed as experiencing 鈥渘ational shortages鈥� on the federal government鈥檚 drugs shortage website.
They are three of the 1,848 reported drug shortages in the country and there are 53 anticipated drug shortages that could affect patients across the country, .
鈥淭hese drugs are off patent and low profitability for their producers,鈥� said Dr. Gerald Batis, Director of the Segal Cancer Centre at Montreal鈥檚 Jewish General Hospital, on CTV鈥檚 Your Morning on Friday.
鈥淭here seems to be less prioritization in terms of ensuring long term production and provision to Canadians in terms of these drugs,鈥� he said, adding that patients are not facing a shortage 鈥渢omorrow鈥� but that efforts have been declining over the past five years to produce them.
Batis said that there are 鈥渕ultiple levels鈥� or organizations monitoring this, including who have put out statements to 鈥渞eassure all of us they are looking into this.鈥�
Drug shortages have been gaining increasing national attention, as high profile caravans of Americans cross the border into Canada to buy drugs such as insulin, and U.S. President Donald Trump announced his plans to combat drug shortages 鈥� but Batis says he is skeptical after reading Trump鈥檚 provisions, believing 鈥渢hey won鈥檛 come to fruition.鈥�
Batis said that there needs to be a review of how Canada negotiates its drugs from suppliers, including more power for buyer groups and government organizations to ensure that the 鈥渘ecessary provisions鈥nd penalties鈥� are in the contracts with drug producers to avoid short supplies, whether the drug is deemed profitable or not.
