New Delhi, June 8: Leading oncologists have raised concerns over the nationwide shortage of critical chemotherapy drugs, Cisplatin and Carboplatin, warning that the supply crisis could seriously impact cancer treatment and patient outcomes.
Doctors from major hospitals, including AIIMS Delhi, Fortis Hospitals, SPARSH Hospitals, and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said the platinum-based drugs are essential for treating cancers such as lung, head and neck, ovarian, bladder, cervical, and testicular cancers.
Experts cautioned that prolonged shortages may force doctors to delay treatment or switch to less effective alternatives, potentially reducing survival rates and affecting patients undergoing curative therapies. They stressed that timely access to these medicines is crucial, particularly for those receiving chemotherapy and chemoradiation.
According to industry representatives, the shortage is linked to global supply chain disruptions and limited availability of platinum-based raw materials, rather than pricing issues. The scarcity has been reported across the country over the past few weeks.
Medical experts and chemist associations have urged the Centre to facilitate the availability of raw materials, boost domestic production, strengthen supply-chain monitoring, and create strategic stockpiles to ensure uninterrupted access to life-saving cancer drugs.
