[Evaluation of Health Economics in Oncology Drug Therapy]

Cancer treatment has made remarkable progress in recent years, particularly in the field of drug therapy. However, the high-cost of new drugs has led to active discussions about cost-effectiveness in cancer treatment. This article examines the pharmacoeconomics of drug therapy in cancer treatment from both macro and micro perspectives. From a macro perspective, Japan's drug pricing system determines prices based on the presence or absence of similar drugs. The system aims to balance the incentives for developing innovative new drugs with the sustainability of healthcare costs. The increasing share of drug costs in overall healthcare expenditure, especially for anticancer drugs, poses a significant challenge. From a micro perspective, hospitals face challenges in managing their revenue structure due to the low profit margins on anticancer drugs and the complex diagnosis-related group(DPC)classification system. The use of expensive anticancer drugs, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, increases the drug cost burden on hospitals. While the high-cost medical care benefit system sets an upper limit on patient out-of-pocket expenses, the increasing use of high-priced drugs remains a concern for both patients and healthcare providers. Balancing patient access to innovative treatments with the sustainability of healthcare costs is a critical issue in cancer drug therapy. Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive approach that considers both macro and micro perspectives.