Cancer care and economic burden-A narrative review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Oncology

Background:

• Noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, are a major cause of death and disability in India.
• India's healthcare system relies heavily on out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), leading to unequal access and financial distress.
• A significant portion of OOPE is spent on cancer care, including medicines, diagnostics, and consultations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the economic burden of cancer care in India.
• To highlight the prevalence of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) in cancer patients.
• To identify challenges and propose solutions for improving cancer care affordability and accessibility.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on healthcare financing and cancer care costs in India.
• Analysis of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) patterns in cancer treatment.
• Examination of the impact of health insurance coverage and public healthcare services.

Main Results:

• Cancer care incurs substantial financial challenges for patients and families, driven by high treatment costs and limited insurance.
• Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) for cancer care frequently leads to catastrophic health expenditure (CHE), causing financial distress and impoverishment.
• Family care physicians play a vital role in palliative cancer care, offering support and coordinating services during periods of financial strain.

Conclusions:

• Strengthening healthcare infrastructure, enhancing health insurance, and ensuring access to affordable cancer care are essential.
• Preventive measures and early cancer detection can mitigate the need for costly treatments and reduce the risk of CHE.
• Comprehensive strategies are required to alleviate the economic burden of cancer care in India and improve patient outcomes.