Dr Kim on the Effects of Drug Shortages in Cancer Care and How to Mitigate Them

Edward S. Kim, MD, MBA, physician-in-chief, City of Hope Orange County, vice physician-in-chief, City of Hope National Medical Center, professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research Construction, City of Hope, physician-in-chief chair, Industries Alliance, City of Hope Orange County, discusses drug shortages in cancer care, detailing how City of Hope has continued to establish efforts to mitigate the effects of these shortages.

National shortages of carboplatin and cisplatin have been reported in 93% and 70% of cancer centers in the United States, respectively, according to a Practices Committee Carboplatin and Cisplatin Shortage Survey conducted by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) from May 23, 2023, through May 31, 2023.

Drug shortages are commonly encountered in the health care system, even in cancer care, Kim begins. He notes that this is the fourth shortage he has encountered in his career. For example, an etoposide shortage, which occurred in 2018 because of a manufacturing delay, affected hospitals across the country, Kim says. Notably, etoposide is given with curative intent in patients with small cell lung cancer, he adds.

Most health care systems, including City of Hope, have been appropriately dealing with this situation, Kim expands. Oncologists ensure they prioritize the right settings for platinum agents and continue to consider what chemotherapy is used and how, he says. Kim says that he has personally felt minimal effect from the shortage in his own practice, although much discussion has surrounded this topic. City of Hope’s pharmacy team and clinical leaders have done a notable job mitigating the effects of the shortage at their institution to help patients, Kim emphasizes. Thanks to the leaders of these health systems across the United States, the effects of this shortage on overall City of Hope patient care have been minimal, according to Kim.