Cancer chemotherapy treatments have been disrupted due to the shortage of Filgrastim injections.

Chemotherapy treatments for cancer patients in many hospitals across the country have been completely halted due to a shortage of the essential vaccine called Filgrastim. The main reason for this severe crisis is the suspension of the distribution of these vaccines among patients, stemming from a technical issue related to the label on the imported vaccine stock.

One hundred and sixty thousand doses of this vaccine, manufactured in China, were imported into the country through the official tender procedure of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and the label submitted by the manufacturing company was initially approved by the corporation. However, when vaccine samples were submitted for approval to the Medical Supplies Division, food and drug inspectors revealed a defect in its label.

Since there are no issues regarding the quality and standard of this medicine, the relevant importing company has requested the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and the Director General of Health Services to discuss the label issue with the Association of Oncologists and make a decision. However, the Medicines Regulatory Authority has stated that the relevant vaccine stock must be sent back to China, re-labeled correctly, and re-imported, which will take approximately two and a half months.

Due to this label crisis and the unavailability of the vaccine from government hospitals, cancer patients have been forced to spend an exorbitant amount of approximately Rs. 23,000 for a vaccine obtained from the private market or imported into the country through various other means. The treatments for helpless patients who cannot afford to buy medicine at such high prices have been temporarily halted, and hospital sources indicate that this is a serious situation.