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Updated: Feb 22, 2026
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Author Spotlight: Improving Radiation Therapy Access with Radiation Planning Assistant
Published on: October 6, 2023
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Cost evaluation to optimise radiation therapy implementation in different income settings: A time-driven
Jacob Van Dyk1, Eduardo Zubizarreta2, Yolande Lievens3
1Western University, London, Canada.
Summary
Understanding radiotherapy costs is crucial for expanding cancer treatment capacity globally. Department size and operating hours significantly impact cost per course, with economies of scale reducing expenses.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Health Economics
- Radiotherapy Services
Background:
- Global cancer incidence is rising, necessitating efficient radiotherapy expansion.
- Understanding the financial and human resource implications of radiotherapy is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the cost of radiotherapy services across different income levels.
- To identify key factors influencing radiotherapy costs.
Main Methods:
- A time-driven activity-based costing analysis was conducted.
- Scenarios included varying department size, operating hours, treatment complexity, and care models.
Main Results:
- Base case costs per course: $5,368 (high-income countries), $2,028 (low-income countries).
- Economies of scale reduce costs, particularly up to 3 linear accelerators.
- Reduced operating hours (<8h/day) and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) significantly increase costs.
Conclusions:
- Results offer insights for optimizing local and regional radiotherapy service delivery.
- The methodology can contribute to a standardized approach for evaluating radiotherapy costs.
Keywords:
Activity-based costingCost analysisCost optimisationGlobal income classificationsLow- and middle-income countriesRadiotherapyMore Related Videos
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