Researchers from the European Society of Oncology Pharmacists and the European Cancer Organisation conducted a survey of pharmacists in 46 cancer centers and hospitals in seven countries surrounding Ukraine, finding that 36% of hospitals reported a shortage of cancer medications.
The three cancer medicines most often reported in shortage were oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and cisplatin.
The full report is available here.
The survey was conducted March 31, 2022 to April 13, 2022, and drew responses from Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. The survey was part of an overall effort by the European Cancer Organisation-American Society of Clinical Oncology Special Network on the Impact of the War in Ukraine on Cancer to understand the needs of countries welcoming displaced Ukrainian citizens with cancer (The Cancer Letter, April 15, 2022).
The report was jointly produced by ESOP and ECO, with input and support from the European Society for Medical Oncology.
“Cancer knows no borders and neither should we,” Mark Lawler, associate pro-vice-chancellor and professor of digital health at Queen’s University Belfast and ECO board member, said in a statement. “We need to get the cancer drugs as quickly as we can to where they are most needed. Otherwise, we are not only failing Ukrainian cancer refugees, but also cancer patients across Eastern Europe. We need to stand as one—Europeans against war and against cancer.”
