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🇳🇵 Nepal /Health & Science

Cancer patients in Nepal struggle as chemotherapy drugs run short

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Cancer patients in Chitwan, Nepal, face critical shortages of essential chemotherapy drugs like carboplatin and cisplatin.
  • The scarcity stems from global ingredient scarcity, rising raw material and fuel costs, and importer reluctance due to unadjusted medicine prices.
  • Hospitals and distributors report insufficient supplies to meet daily demand, forcing patients and families to spend days searching for medication.

Patients at the B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur, Chitwan, are grappling with a severe shortage of vital chemotherapy drugs, carboplatin and cisplatin. The scarcity has persisted for weeks, compelling patients and their families to embark on desperate searches for the medicines essential for continuing treatment.

We received 20 vials of 450 mg and 20 vials of 150 mg carboplatin on Wednesday. All the 450 mg vials were sold out immediately. Demand is at least 40 vials a day.

— Rajiv ThapaProprietor of Raj Drug Pvt Ltd, explaining the insufficient stock of carboplatin.

Doctors attribute the drug shortage to a confluence of factors, including a global scarcity of active pharmaceutical ingredients, increased raw material costs, and higher production and transportation expenses driven by rising fuel prices. Importers have been hesitant to bring in adequate quantities, citing that medicine prices in Nepal have not kept pace with these escalating costs.

I arrived on Monday, but the medicine wasn’t available. After searching in many places, we finally managed to get it and continue treatment. Now I’m worried whether it will be available next time.

— Ekala MahatoA patient's relative describing the difficulty in obtaining necessary medication.

While the Department of Drug Administration has designated 11 institutions for distribution, supplies remain critically low. Raj Drug Pvt Ltd, responsible for Chitwan district, confirmed receiving only 20 vials of carboplatin, a fraction of the estimated 40-vial daily demand. "All the 450 mg vials were sold out immediately," stated proprietor Rajiv Thapa.

We couldn’t find one of the required drugs even during the second treatment cycle. This time too, we found it only after searching extensively.

— Poonam MandalA patient's relative detailing the prolonged search for essential drugs.

The struggle for medication adds immense burden to patients already fighting cancer. Families recount spending days searching for drugs, facing uncertainty about future availability. "We are already fighting the disease. Having to struggle for medicines makes it even harder," said Om Prakash Kumar, who spent three days searching for his chemotherapy drugs.

We are already fighting the disease. Having to struggle for medicines makes it even harder.

— Om Prakash KumarA patient expressing the added difficulty of seeking medication during cancer treatment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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