Abstract IS-2: The challenge of definition and adoption; perspective from the Middle East

Abstract

Abstract Cancer has become one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The World Health Organization has warned the number of cancer diagnoses in the Middle East (ME) in the next two decades will nearly double unless authorities take action. This means the ME will have the highest relative increase of all regions in the world. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in ME (15%) and the second most common in terms of cancer related mortality (9%). Across the world, the cost of healthcare is rising faster than economies are growing, creating the case for value based healthcare (VBHC), with value based medicine taking center stage. VBHC helps healthcare providers manage cost increases, make the best use of finite resources and deliver improved care to patients. The challenge for effective control of cancer is multifaceted. It mandates integration of effective cancer prevention, encouraging early detection, and utilization of resource adapted therapeutic and supportive interventions. Overly expensive drugs may consume resources; not just drugs for other conditions but paying for these may reduce the ability to invest in other cancer services like surgery, radiotherapy or early detection services. Access to cancer drugs is imperative but their price tag is creating a significant barrier to access. Countries in the ME are heterogeneous in terms of income. However, they all have different aspects of challenge when it comes to implementing value based models. Many have other priorities such as improving quality and increasing access to basic health services. Others struggle with the challenges of fragmented systems, and the limits of existing healthcare infrastructure and operations. A particular challenge among others is the deficiency in the core components focusing on objective measures of outcomes and costs; including policies and institutions for value in healthcare. These obstacles are, indeed, shared by many other countries. As technology advances and new value-based approaches take hold in wealthy economies, those countries that are still investing in developing their health systems have an opportunity to learn from their experience, saving precious resources and delivering better long-term care for their societies. Citation Format: Al Sukhun S. The challenge of definition and adoption; perspective from the Middle East [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr IS-2.