HEALTH bosses say supplies of a key drug will be resolved within days after a cancer patient was told every chemist in Edinburgh had run out of her medication.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, tried to collect a month’s worth of hormonal therapy drug Provera at her regular pharmacy in Edinburgh.

However, staff told her there was none left – and that supplies had run out in all of the capital’s pharmacies.

She eventually secured supplies from her cancer support unit at the Edinburgh Western General, which had limited stocks.

When she was subsequently admitted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for an infection, she found out that they too had run out of Provera, which is made by international pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.

When approached by the Sunday National, the company said the “short-term interruption of supply” has affected the UK as a whole.

The woman’s husband said: “If it was happening to one person, it was happening to lots and lots of others.

“The supply is hand-to-mouth. We had to go door-to-door to get it.

“If you are quite ill, then it’s one more piece of angst you don’t need.”

Provera, also known as medroxyprogesterone acetate, is used to tackle breast, womb and kidney cancers as well as to boost appetite or reduce hot flushes experienced as a side effect of treatment for other conditions.

In a statement, Pfizer said: “There has been a short-term interruption of supply of Provera in the UK. Pfizer recognises the importance of the consistent availability of Provera to patients and is working hard to minimise the impact of the shortage on our customers and patients.

“The product will be shipped to the market in the coming days, and we expect to continue to improve the market supply position of Provera over the coming months.

“The temporary constraint in supply is due to technical issues in the manufacturing site which has resulted in a delay in packaging.”

Tracey Gillies, medical director of NHS Lothian, said: “There was a supply problem with certain strengths of the drug, however other strengths are available.

“We have been assured by the manufacturer that this is being resolved and supplies should be available to pharmacies from early next week.”

She went on: “Community pharmacists are well placed to support patients who are having difficulties obtaining their medications, in some circumstances it may require the patient to be referred back to their general practice.”

Victoria Steven, spokesperson for Cancer Research UK in Scotland, said: “Going through treatment for cancer is an anxious time, and we’re sorry to hear this patient has had the added distress of not being able to obtain her prescription.”