Cancer Drugs in Short Supply

Cancer Drugs in Short Supply

There is a growing shortage of cancer drugs. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota is calling on the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry to address the problem right away.

The FDA currently lists 150 important drugs that are in short supply, everything from morphine to cancer drugs. Doctors say the worry over a shortage gets in the way of their care.

"Instead of spending time making sure that I've given the treatment right, " said Dr. Ed Greeno of the Masonic Cancer Center, I'm spending time on the phone with suppliers, with our other clinics moving things back and forth. So, a lot of emotional energy, intellectual energy, is going into just making sure we have the right drug in the right place."

Senator Klobuchar also plans to introduce legislation to provide the FDA with more tools to manage drug shortages.