The Irish Cancer Society has slammed a leading medical company and the HSE after it was revealed that there will be a shortage of chemotherapy drugs for patients here.
The appalling news comes after the company Baxter Healthcare revealed that they are currently unable to meet the demand given the low supply.
The shortage has now led to doctors at hospitals across the country being forced to alter treatment plans for hundreds of patients even though it is not recommended.
Speaking about the alarming issue Irish Patients’ Association spokesman Stephen McMahon has said the Health Minister Simon Harris and the HSE have a responsibility to get answers and resolve the serious problem fast.
Mr McMahon also said it was completely unfair that terminally ill patients were being forced to wait for much needed treatment given that the Department of Health will only deal with one company.
It is believed that Baxter Healthcare is the only company that sells the intravenous chemotherapy drugs to both public and private hospitals here.
Meanwhile a Baxter spokesman apologised to patients, saying they expect to resume production of the drug next week.
The spokesman added: “Baxter is experiencing a temporary supply constraint of compounded chemotherapy products supplied to a number of public and private hospitals in Ireland.”
“We would like to sincerely apologise to patients and clinicians.”