'Cancer Patients Are Suffering': Oncologists Raise Alarm Over Chemo Drug Shortage In India

Oncologists across India have raised serious concerns over a shortage of two critical chemotherapy drugs — Cisplatin and Carboplatin — warning that disruptions in supply could affect treatment for patients with several common cancers.Times Now spoke to two experts to understand the reasons behind the shortage and its impact on cancer patients.According to Dr Shyam Agarwal, Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, the hospital has been facing a shortage of key drugs for almost a month."There are two very important drugs for cancer patients. One is called Cisplatin, and the other is called Carboplatin. We are facing a shortage of these two drugs for the last 15 days to almost a month now," he said.Dr Agarwal said that the two platinum-based

drugs are the backbone of cancer treatment for common cancers such as oral cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, oesophageal cancer, and testicular cancer."These are essential drugs for saving the lives of these patients," he said.The drugs are used in both early-stage and advanced-stage cancers and are often combined with other anti-cancer medicines.He noted that Sir Ganga Ram Hospital currently has "no stock of Carboplatin and only two to three days' stock of Cisplatin remaining". He further added that patients are also struggling to source the medicines from the market.The senior oncologist explained that Carboplatin comes in two different doses, 150 mg and 450 mg, and is given depending on the stage of cancer and patient requirements.However, since the 150 mg formulation of Carboplatin has been unavailable for nearly two to three weeks, doctors are being forced to use larger 450 mg vials and discard unused quantities, causing significant wastage of the medicine.Notably, the shortage appears to be widespread across India."I have spoken to doctors in Bengaluru, and there is an extreme shortage there. One of the doctors told me that even VIP patients are suffering because of the lack of these two drugs. Similarly, in Haryana and other states, and even in Kerala, I have received reports that both these drugs are in short supply," he said.

Why Are The Drugs In Short Supply?

Dr Agarwal said the shortage is linked to rising manufacturing costs and price controls under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO)."The production cost has increased because the API, or active pharmaceutical ingredient, which is imported from abroad, has become more expensive. As a result, manufacturing costs have gone up, but the MRP has not increased," he said.Cisplatin and Carboplatin are generic medicines manufactured by around 50 companies in India, including Cipla, Dr. Reddy's, and Intas. The drugs typically cost patients around Rs 3,000-4,000 per month. According to Dr Agarwal, companies are finding it difficult to sustain production as manufacturing costs have increased.According to him, pharmaceutical companies have approached the government seeking a revision of the price cap."Since companies were reportedly making losses on these two drugs, some have stopped manufacturing them. That is what I have been told by a few companies," he told Times Now.

No Universal Alternative

Dr Mandeep Singh Malhotra, Director – Surgical Oncology at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, described the shortage as a major concern for the oncology community."The reported shortage of Cisplatin and Carboplatin is a matter of significant concern for the oncology community. These drugs are not niche therapies; they are foundational medicines that have been used for decades and continue to play a pivotal role in the treatment of several common cancers," he told Times Now."A substantial proportion of chemotherapy protocols for solid tumours rely on one of these platinum-based agents, making their availability crucial for timely cancer care."Dr Malhotra noted that the medicines are both highly effective and cost-efficient, making them accessible to a large number of patients."A prolonged shortage could place considerable strain on treating physicians and patients alike, especially in resource-constrained settings. It is important that steps are taken at the policy and supply-chain level to ensure consistent availability across the country," he said.He stressed that there is "currently no direct substitute that can universally replace Cisplatin or Carboplatin" across all cancer indications."Treatment decisions are disease-specific, and in many cancers these drugs remain the standard of care. Therefore, maintaining a steady supply is essential to prevent disruptions in treatment and safeguard patient outcomes," Dr Malhotra said."We need the medicines. Patients are suffering," Dr Agarwal added, while requesting the government to intervene and ensure the production of these low-cost drugs.