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Escalating costs for cancer chemotherapy
American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
|August 1, 1981
Summary
The cost of cancer chemotherapy drugs significantly increased between 1975 and 1980, driven by new antineoplastic agents. Hospitals must plan budgets accordingly due to rising cancer drug expenditures.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Health Economics
- Hospital Administration
Background:
- Chemotherapeutic agents are crucial in cancer treatment.
- Evaluating the financial impact of new cancer drugs on hospital budgets is essential for resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the annual costs of chemotherapeutic agents from 1975 to 1980.
- To assess the impact of newly marketed chemotherapeutic agents on hospital budgets during this period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pharmacy purchasing records for antineoplastics.
- Analysis of Consumer Price Index and hospital patient load for cost adjustments.
- Review of oncology clinic records for patient visit and drug prescription trends.
Main Results:
- Antineoplastic drug costs surged from $10,156 (FY 1973-1974) to $296,914 (FY 1979-1980).
- These costs rose from 5.74% to 16.74% of the total drug budget.
- Increased patient load and inflation accounted for only a portion of the cost rise; new drug availability was a key driver.
Conclusions:
- The rise in cancer drug costs is closely linked to the recent commercial availability of new antineoplastics, notably doxorubicin.
- Cancer drug expenditures are expected to remain a significant component of hospital budgets.
- Proactive budget planning is necessary to accommodate future increases in cancer chemotherapy costs.