The fluorouracil chemotherapy drug used to treat internal cancers has been out of stock for more than seven days, PN’s spokesman for primary health care and mental health care Ian Vassallo said.

The MP questioned the government’s position on the matter in a Facebook post on Saturday.

Contacted by this newsroom Monday, Vassallo said that up until Sunday night there has been no confirmation of when this medicine is going to be made available. He said that the information he has is that a supply has been ordered.

He added that “this is a local problem”, as the medicine is available internationally in Europe.

The spokesperson also checked with local pharmacies where he was told that they also don’t have this kind of chemotherapy.

“My heart goes out to those patients who are crying and are going back home without the treatment that controls their condition and that can save their lives,” he wrote.

During the first few days of the shortage, patients waiting to be treated with fluorouracil were sent back home when they turned up at the hospital, whilst others were contacted by Mater Dei personnel not to attend their session, he said.

The government is yet to comment on the situation.

The Malta independent has also sent questions to the Health-Central Procurement and Supplies unit at mater Dei, however at the time of writing of this article there has been no answer.