2024 年 55 巻 4 号 p. 209-216
Between November 2023 and January 2024, the supply of dacarbazine, an anticancer medication, was suspended. Suspension of cancer drug supplies can make it challenging to continue treatment, potentially having a significant impact on patient survival outcomes. This study aims to determine the impact of the dacarbazine supply suspension on clinical treatments, as well as the challenges associated with inter-institutional pharmaceutical borrowing. A survey conducted primarily among cancer treatment co-ordination hospitals in the Aichi Prefecture demonstrated that 55% of them faced numerous treatment restrictions due to the supply suspension, such as interruptions in treatment, changes in treatment regimens, and reductions in dosages. Despite regulations under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act, borrowing of pharmaceuticals between medical institutions has been identified as a beneficial solution for ongoing treatment, while also highlighting the associated challenges. These findings highlight the requirement for prompt information provision from pharmaceutical companies, strengthening co-operative systems between medical institutions, and flexible operation of the legal framework during emergencies as countermeasures to pharmaceutical supply suspensions. As a preventative measure against future similar supply issues, it is proposed that a collaborative system involving pharmaceutical companies, medical institutions, related academic societies, and the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare maintain a pharmaceutical supply that does not disadvantage patients.