Gauteng hospitals run out of key cancer drug
30 January 2017
Hospitals in Gauteng have run out of a key cancer drug that is used to increase the effectiveness of radiation treatment for cervical cancer.
Cancer departments have experienced problems in getting the anti-cancer drug Cisplatin since the beginning of this year.
The fault lies with the national health department which issued the tender for this drug from a local company that couldn't supply it.
Alternative arrangements are being made to import Cisplatin by 6 February, but many cervical cancer patients will suffer because the radiation treatment is less effective without this drug and the cancer may recur.