Nepal cancer patients fight for survival as chemotherapy drugs are nowhere to be found
Summary
Nepal is facing a severe shortage of platinum-based chemotherapy drugs like cisplatin, severely impacting cancer patients' treatment and forcing many to seek costly alternatives on the black market or delay treatment.
Key Points
- Nepal is experiencing an acute scarcity of platinum-based chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin.
- Cancer patients' treatments are being delayed or halted due to the unavailability of essential chemotherapy medicines.
- Price caps and rising manufacturing costs have caused suppliers to stop importing these drugs, worsening the shortage.
- The Department of Drug Administration is attempting to address the issue but faces challenges with price adjustments and drug distribution.
