Cancer Drugs Vanish from Delhi State Cancer Institute

The Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI) is experiencing a severe scarcity of essential medicines, with 48 crucial drugs unavailable as of September 21. This includes vital chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapies, pain relief medications, antibiotics, and intravenous fluids. The shortage impacts patients significantly, as they are reportedly forced to buy these costly medicines from external sources or forgo treatment.

Hospital administration stated that the high cost of these medicines necessitates exploring procurement through government e-marketplaces (GeM) and other approved channels to secure better rates. While supply orders have been issued for some drugs, the full list of unavailable medications remains a concern. The absence of a medical oncologist is also a contributing factor, as specialist monitoring is required for certain second-line cancer treatments.

Key missing medications include tamoxifen for breast cancer, abiraterone and leuprolide for prostate cancer, irinotecan for colorectal cancer, and lorlatinib and osimertinib for lung cancer. Supportive care drugs like morphine and fentanyl, along with antibiotics and iron supplements, are also affected. The hospital is actively working to fill the medical oncologist vacancy to ensure adherence to treatment protocols and the rational use of these critical medications.