Diluted chemo drugs given to 26 other Ontario patients

A hospital in London, Ont., says 26 more cancer patients received overdiluted chemotherapy drugs, raising the number of people affected in that province and New Brunswick to 1,202.

The new total for London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is 691 651 adults and 40 children, the hospital said Friday.

Of the adults, the hospital said it believes 117 died. What potential role the diluted chemotherapy may have played in the deaths is unknown.

"Given the significant number of LHSC patients impacted and the compressed timeline for the initial file assessment, LHSC has since conducted a second review as a due diligence measure," the hospital said on its website. "Today, as a result of this final review, LHSC is reporting publicly that an additional 26 patients have been identified as being impacted by the chemotherapy compounding issue.

"At this time, we have attempted to call all 26 patients and sent letters as well, to express our sincere regret that they, too, are impacted, said Neil Johnson, the hospital's vice president of cancer care.

On Thursday, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne vowed to correct any issues that led to the diluted chemotherapy problem.

All 77 hospitals that provide chemotherapy have verified their remaining drug stocks are free of the dilution problem, Ontario's health ministry said.

Regulatory oversight of pharmacies like Marchese, the Hamilton, Ont-based supplier of the drugs, is unclear.

"What happens currently is the College of Pharmacists regulates pharmacists and pharmacies and Health Canada regulates drug manufacturers so there's this grey area that has developed and it wasn't clear who had oversights," Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews told CBC's Power & Politics last night.

"That's not OK clearly and rather than taking time to sort it all out, I think it's really important the College of Pharmacists be given the authority where they can go in, in partnership with Health Canada."

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Diluted chemo drugs given to 26 other Ontario patients