Hampshire Cancer Charity Sounds Alarm on Critical Shortage of Life-Saving Therapy

The urgent plea from a Hampshire cancer charity has brought to light a critical shortage of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), a vital treatment for patients battling various forms of cancer, including pancreatic and colorectal cancers. The charity, which focuses on supporting individuals with pancreatic, liver, colorectal, abdominal, and neuroendocrine cancers, estimates that approximately 20,000 people across the UK are suffering due to this alarming deficit. The drug, commonly known by its brand name Creon, plays a crucial role in aiding digestion for cancer patients who often face complications such as malnutrition. Mr. Pearce, a former pancreatic cancer surgeon and an advocate for patients affected by this shortage, has voiced serious concerns regarding the potential consequences of this situation. He warned that without immediate and effective interim solutions, the lack of available PERT could lead to "excess and avoidable deaths," particularly due to complications like sepsis and diabetes. Despite a National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) safety alert recommending that procurement rules be relaxed to facilitate the importation of PERT from unlicensed sources, Mr. Pearce highlighted a troubling reality: there is no evidence that patients have been able to access these alternatives. Reports of patients "scouring the country" for pharmacists with any available stock paint a desperate picture of the current healthcare landscape for these vulnerable individuals. A spokesperson for PLANETS, the charity in question, elaborated on the situation, pointing to a lack of UK manufacturing capabilities and a global surge in demand as significant contributors to the shortage. The charity has called for a thorough review and reform of current NHS prescribing rules, which prevent pharmacists from offering substitute medications when a specific brand is prescribed. This rigidity, combined with NHS procurement rules that exclude viable supplies from unlicensed sources, has left many patients in a precarious position. As the charity awaits a response from the Department for Health and Social Care, the urgency for action grows more pronounced. The potential for life-threatening health complications due to the absence of this essential medication raises critical questions about patient safety and the resilience of healthcare systems in responding to drug shortages. The call for immediate intervention is loud and clear, with the futures of thousands of cancer patients hanging in the balance.