Household costs of breast cancer morbidity: An empirical assessment from Pakistan

Health care costs attributable to breast cancer are substantial. In countries with high poverty, lack of public health infrastructure and low availability of health insurance, the economic burden of disease does not accrue solely to health care, but also on patients and their families. This study was conducted to explore the cost burden (i.e. direct medical costs, direct non-medical costs and indirect non-medical costs) incurred by breast cancer patients and their families over diagnosis and treatment.

Data was collected from 200 breast cancer patients at two hospitals in Lahore, provincial capital of Punjab, Pakistan, by employing purposive sampling technique. Costs were aggregated into three categories and compared with each other as per their weightage.

The study found that direct medical care (US$ 1262.18/ Local currency (PKR) 129,717) is the largest expense, followed by direct non-medical (US$ 310.88 / PKR 31,950) and indirect non-medical costs (US$ 273.38 / PKR 28,096).

The results of this study provide rich insight into the financial burden borne by households of breast cancer patients and suggest policy implications.