[Costs of cancer care]

Costs Of Cancer Care. In France, healthcare for nearly 2.5 million of patients with cancer is 100 % funded through the "long duration disease" plan offered by the national insurance system. The increase in the cost of the therapeutic means and in the number of patients becoming chronically ill thanks to progress in the global care lead to having to take the economic elements into account. All items of expenditure, all costs must be considered. In 2012, the cancer has mobilized 10% of health insurance expenditure, or 14.5 billion euros. Regarding drugs, their price is based on expert assessment of their therapeutic and medico-economic contribution, followed by a demanding negotiation between representatives of the administration and the industry. The French system intends to defend both solidarity and equity in access to care, on the basis of rigorous analysis. It remains up to the doctors then to make fair use of the means thus available at their disposal.