The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is calling on U.S. regulators to monitor potential weaknesses within medical supply chains due to a “severe” shortage of cancer drugs, according to the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS). This comes after two chemotherapy drugs that are used to treat various forms of gastrointestinal cancer — carboplatin and cisplatin— were reportedly found to be in “extremely short supply.”

The ASCO is insisting regulators create a list of critical drugs that are needed for emergency responses. Moreover, the organization said that drugs on the list should be evaluated for their availability, quality and manufacturer reliability. Also, the ASCO asked legislators to develop incentives so that drug manufacturers ensure their products are readily available.

“This shortage is among the most severe we have seen in a long time, and its ripple effects are being felt across the country,” said Julie R Gralow, ASCO chief medical officer and executive vice president. “There is no single solution to this serious problem but doing nothing is not an option. We need government and manufacturers to come together to do the hard work necessary to prevent these crises.”