Drugs shortage has affected hundreds of Bulgarian children with cancer after generic drug company Sandoz suspended its production, catching local authorities unprepared.

Sandoz Inc. was forced to reduce production and begin upgrading its facilities at the beginning of the year after the US Food and Drug Administration cited it for deficiencies relating to the safety and reliability of production.

Sandoz manufactures several hundred medicines, including injectable cancer drugs, antibiotics and morphine.

Sixteen European Union member states have been affected by the suspension of supplies, including Bulgaria.

Bulgarian children with cancer have been left without medication, forcing their parents to buy the medicines themselves or at least try to raise money for that.

The feared drug shortage prompted Bulgaria's health ministry to allow hospitals to purchase substitutes for these drugs, which are not registered in the country.

The only hospital treating children with cancer in Bulgaria, based in the capital Sofia, however can not afford to buy the medicines as no one will cover the expenses for that, its representatives told bTV private channel.

As of the beginning of the year it is Bulgaria's health fund and not the health ministry that has been in charge of cancer drugs supply, a move, officially taken to ease patients access to medication.

Bulgarian cancer sufferers and their families often feel abandoned in their struggle to come to terms with the illness, both in terms of treatment and emotional support.

Unlike other European countries, whose health care systems do their best to fund extra services to support these people and their relatives through the darkest of times, those who have been diagnosed with cancer in Bulgaria face a chronic shortage of life-saving medicines.

Not to mention the lack of support they need to cope with the emotional turmoil of the illness.

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