Chemotherapy drug shortages in paediatric oncology: A 14-year single-centre experience in Belgium. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bauters, Tiene; Claus, Barbara OM; Norga, Koen; Huys, Isabelle; Simoens, Steven; Laureys, Geneviève
• Is Part Of: Journal of oncology pharmacy practice. Volume 22:Number 6(2016)
• Page Start: 766
• Page End: 770
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Drug shortages -- paediatrics -- oncology; Cancer -- Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; Clinical pharmacology -- Periodicals; 616.994061
• DOI: 10.1177/1078155215610915
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1078-1552

Abstract

Shortages of chemotherapy are a growing challenge for the healthcare system. We present the burden of drug shortages of chemotherapeutics in the paediatric hemato-oncology unit of a tertiary care hospital and solutions that were used to manage them. Between January 2001 and December 2014, 54 individual shortages were detected, affecting a total number of 21 different drugs. In total, 4127 shortage days were registered with a mean duration of 196.5 SD ± 144.0 days per individual drug shortage. Methotrexate, doxorubicin and carboplatin had the longest supply disruptions. Solutions to address the problems were purchase of a generic alternative, a change of individual treatment plans, cohorting of patients and import from abroad.