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Financial Burden of Cancer Drug Treatment in Lebanon |
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| รหัสดีโอไอ | |
| Creator | Fadia Elias |
| Title | Financial Burden of Cancer Drug Treatment in Lebanon |
| Publisher | APJCP |
| Publication Year | 2559 |
| Journal Title | Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention |
| Journal Vol. | 17 |
| Journal No. | 7 |
| Page no. | 3173-3177 |
| Keyword | Middle-East , middle income countries , antineoplastic drugs , health expenditures , equitable access |
| Abstract | Background: The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in Lebanon provides cancer drugs free of charge for uninsured patients who account for more than half the total case-load. Other categories of cancer care are subsidized under more stringent eligibility criteria. MOPH๊s large database offers an excellent opportunity to analyze the cost of cancer treatment in Lebanon. Materials and Methods: Using utilization and spending data accumulated at MOPH during 2008-2013, the cost to the public budget of cancer drugs was assessed per case and per drug type. Results: The average annual cost of cancer drugs was 6,475$ per patient. Total cancer drug costs were highest for breast cancer, followed by chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and Non-Hodgkin๊s lymphoma (NHL), which together represented 74% of total MOPH cancer drug expenditure. The annual average cancer drug cost per case was highest for CML ($31,037), followed by NHL ($11,566). Trastuzumab represented 26% and Imatinib 15% of total MOPH cancer drug expenditure over six years. Conclusions: Sustained increase in cancer drug cost threatens the sustainability of MOPH coverage, so crucial for socially vulnerable citizens. To enhance the bargaining position with pharmaceutical firms for drug cost containment in a small market like Lebanon, drug price comparisons with neighboring countries which have already obtained lower prices may succeed in lowering drug costs. |
