Eastern Hearth has put a plan in place to help patients affected by a national Tamoxifen drug shortage. The oral drug is used for hormonal therapy in breast cancer patients.

Health Canada has identified a shortage of the anti-estrogen drug, which is also used to treat other conditions.

Eastern Health says while the estimated time for the supply to be back to normal is not currently known, Health Canada is working with the companies involved to increase production of the drug in Canada by January 2020.

Eastern Health’s Cancer Care Program has been working with oncologists, the Pharmacists’ Association, and the provincial department of health in developing a contingency plan.

Periodic worldwide shortages of certain drugs, particularly cancer drugs, have been blamed on the fact that in many cases there are fewer manufacturers and suppliers. Shortages are caused by problems in the supply chain and few alternatives to fill those gaps.

Eastern Health is asking affected patients to call their local pharmacy to see if the pharmacist can get the drug from another pharmacy, and if Tamoxifen is not available, to call the Cancer Care Centre at 1-844-923-1336.