Cancer patients struggle amid digestive drug shortage

Pharmacists in the Channel Islands have revealed that there is a shortage of a drug used to support digestion in cancer patients.

Creon is a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), which helps people living with conditions such as cystic fibrosis, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer to digest food.

A sample survey by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) of 300 pharmacies found that 96 per cent of pharmacies reported challenges supplying Creon, with 89 per cent also reporting difficulties in supplying PERT alternatives.

Patients are skipping their meals, controlling their doses and commuting more than 30 miles to find the drug. They are at risk of malnutrition and dangerous weight loss without this drug.

A spokesperson from the Guernsey Prescribing Support Unit said there have been supply issues since the summer of 2024 with the department of health issuing a national patient alert in December 2024.

"Local pharmacies have been working hard to help maintain supplies of medication for patients and at times this has proved difficult,” the spokesperson added.

They also said that an average of 70 Pert prescriptions are dispensed per month in Guernsey, and they have no reports regarding the wellness of the patients in the absence of the drug.

Kevin Smith, the acting director of pharmacy services in Jersey expected the shortage to continue for many months. He said Jersey has come up new measures to effectively manage local supplies, like issuing shorter prescription duration.

Clinical and pharmacy teams are also working with hospitals to find alternative treatments.

Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, of Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: “Thousands of people affected by pancreatic cancer rely on taking PERT tablets every time they eat simply to digest their food and absorb nutrients – something most of us take for granted,’ he said. It’s totally unacceptable that they are still taking desperate measures that put their health, wellbeing and their eligibility for treatment at risk.”

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Gomez, Jersey oncology consultant, added: "Patient safety remains our highest priority. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of care and ensuring that all patients continue to receive the support they need during this period of constrained supply."