Abstract
Background: The aims of this article were to report findings of domestic research related to assessment of hospital treatment costs of Serbian patients suffering from cancer and show similar study results among foreign trials. The authors also intended to suggest likely strategies to improve local cost containment in future. Cost-of-illness studies of most high-income economies have proven that malignant disorders belong to top five disorders according to their overall financial burden. Methods: Our trial was conducted as an in depth, retrospective, bottom-up, trend analysis of services con?sumption patterns and expenses relative to diagnosis at discharge, from perspective of the third party payer. Discounting rates were calculated according to the average official exchange rates of the National Bank of Serbia in respective years. Financial value of medical goods and services consumed was taken out of current price lists of the National Republic Institute on Health Insurance on a day when particular service was provided. Results: There were 434 patients and 4850 admissions processed in 2007, consuming 48,483,740.49 RSD (?613,562.90) while in 2010 there were 539 patients and 9509 admissions, consuming 68,880,953.27 RSD (?658,832.65). In total, drugs value accounts for only 5%, radiotherapy 54% and the rest of expenditure 41% (consulta?tions, surgery, consumables, nursing care, other). Average overall cost per patient treated was 125,922.34 RSD and per hospital admission, it was 8,297.99 RSD. Cancer-related medical care costs, in domestic currency, increased by almost one third in only four-year time span. Conclusion: Higher awareness of clinicians on cost limitations and necessity of prioritization in funding health care, would provide wiser resource allocation and more care with money available.
Highlights
Treatment costs of Serbian patients suffering from cancer and show similar study results among foreign trials
There are more than 1 million new cases of cancer per year in the United States [3]
It is estimated that in 2015, the number of cancer cases will increase for 40% in most of the European countries [4], and the global increase in the number of new cancer cases is predicted from 10 to 15 million for only one decade, by 2020 [5]
Summary
The aims of this article were to report findings of domestic research related to assessment of hospital Arch Oncol 2011;19(3-4):. Treatment costs of Serbian patients suffering from cancer and show similar study results among foreign trials. The UDC: 616-006:616-08:364.32:338 authors intended to suggest likely strategies to improve local cost containment in future.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.