India, Sept. 23 -- New Delhi

Several essential medicines, including key chemotherapy drugs, cancer-targeted therapies, pain medications, antibiotics and intravenous fluids (IV), are currently unavailable at the government-run Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI), as per records accessed by HT.

As per the institute's Essential Drug List (EDL) for September 21, accessed by HT, 48 key medicines of 178 listed drugs were out of stock. The list of unavailable medicines extended form commonly used IV fluids and pain relievers to targeted cancer treatment medicines.

Hospital director Dr Savita Arora, in a written response to queries raised by HT, said, "The medicines in question are quite costly. Therefore, the administration is exploring procu...