The Cost of Oncology Medicines

Abstract

Cancer as a financial value is one of the most expensive diseases. Costs, including the cost of new cancer drugs, are increasing at an unsustainable rate, threatening the permanent access of patients to treatment. Prices for new treatments against cancer have doubled over the past 10 years and now are usually between USD 6000 and USD 10,000 per month, this increase is often not correlated with reimbursement and implemented public health benefits. According to various authors, these results lead to debate whether the cost differences between EU countries and the US for the treatment of oncologic diseases are transformed into improved outcomes for patients, and must also take into account key factors such as lifestyle, late diagnosis, and management approach for treatment, reimbursement of oncology treatment and control of various institutions on spending.

Keywords

• pharmacotherapy cost
• oncologic diseases
• cancer
• treatment