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Umo I, Kulai M, Umo P, James K, Ikasa R. The direct medical cost of breast cancer management in a provincial hospital of Papua New Guinea: A cost of illness study of consecutive patients from 2017 to 2022. J Cancer Policy 2023; 38:100447. [PMID: 37813161 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpo.2023.100447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is a major global health, gender and socioeconomic challenge. In PNG it is the leading cause of female mortality. Understanding direct medical costs related to breast cancer management can direct resource allocation and investment in breast cancer screening, treatment, infastructure and training. METHODS A cost of illness study was conducted amongst patients with breast cancer at Alotau Provincial Hospital from the 12th of January 2017-9 th of August 2022. A bottom up approach of micro costing was applied to estimate the patient and hospital perspectives of direct medical costs. RESULTS The total cost of breast cancer management was K1,624,656.14 (US$471,150.28). 58.5 % (n = 38) of patients with breast cancer did not undergo any form of surgery. Hospital costs accounted for 99.7 % (K1,620,156.14, US$469,845.28) of the total direct medical costs. The average cost per patient was K24,994.71 (US$ 7248.47). The dollar conversion was 1 KINA = 0.29 USD. CONCLUSION Investment in screening, diagnosis and treatment is crucial in addressing the burden of breast cancer in PNG. POLICY SUMMARY Provincial hospitals (in PNG) must invest in and implement the 2015 National Cancer Control Policy strategies that aim to develop hospital based cancer registries, human resources, equip health systems, improve cancer screening, improve diagnostics, research, funding and treatment for breast cancer control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Umo
- Surgical Department, Alotau Provincial Hospital, Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority, Papua New Guinea.
| | - Michealynne Kulai
- School of Medicine and Health Science, Divine Word University, Papua New Guinea
| | - Pius Umo
- Pacific International Hospital, Papua New Guinea
| | - Kennedy James
- Surgical Department, Alotau Provincial Hospital, Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority, Papua New Guinea
| | - Rodger Ikasa
- Surgical Department, Alotau Provincial Hospital, Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority, Papua New Guinea
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Schmidt C, Matlala M, Godman B, Kurdi A, Meyer JC. Perceptions of and Preparedness for the Application of Pharmacoeconomics in Practice, among Final Year Bachelor of Pharmacy Students in South Africa: A National Cross-Sectional Study. PHARMACY 2023; 11:pharmacy11020054. [PMID: 36961033 PMCID: PMC10037603 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy11020054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
For the improvement of access to health, many countries including South Africa, have adopted universal healthcare. However, this requires skills to apply health technology assessments for the facilitation of investment decisions. This study aimed to ascertain final year Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) students' perceptions of the relevance of pharmacoeconomics in pharmacy practice, and their level of preparedness to apply pharmacoeconomic principles, using a quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive design. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire over 12 months, and included student demographics, knowledge about pharmacoeconomics and its applicability in practice, as well as students' satisfaction with the appropriateness of the curriculum content. Five of nine universities offering pharmacy education took part. The overallstudent response rate was 38.1% (189/496), with 26.2% (45/172) of students signifying a good understanding of basic pharmacoeconomic concepts. Pharmacoeconomics application in South Africa was perceived to be relevant by 87.5% (140/160); however, 47.0% (79/168) felt they were not prepared to apply pharmacoeconomic principles in medicine management, and 86.7% (137/158) wanted to acquire additional pharmacoeconomic knowledge. Whilst students' perceptions of the relevance of pharmacoeconomics were positive, results indicated a gap in knowledge, understanding, and application. Addressing this gap may increase students' preparedness to apply pharmacoeconomic principles and better equip them for the practical application of pharmacoeconomics post qualification. Consequently, we have started this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlien Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Molotlegi Street, Garankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
| | - Moliehi Matlala
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Molotlegi Street, Garankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
| | - Brian Godman
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Molotlegi Street, Garankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
- Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Amanj Kurdi
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Molotlegi Street, Garankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil 44001, Iraq
| | - Johanna C Meyer
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Molotlegi Street, Garankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
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Bittner B. Drug delivery improvements to enable a flexible care setting for monoclonal antibody medications in oncology - Analogue-based decision framework. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2023; 20:457-470. [PMID: 36855292 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2023.2184343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The substantial acceleration in healthcare spending together with the expenditures to manage the COVID19 pandemic demand drug delivery solutions that enable a flexible care setting for high-dose monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in oncology. AREAS COVERED This expert opinion introduces an analogue-based framework applied to guide decision-making for associated product improvements for mAb medications that are either already authorized or in late-stage clinical development. The four pillars of this framework comprise (1) the drug delivery profile of current and emerging treatments in the market, (2) the needs and preferences of people treated with mAbs, (3) existing healthcare infrastructures, and (4) country-dependent reimbursement and procurement models. The following product optimization examples for mAb-based treatments are evaluated based on original research and review articles in the field: subcutaneous formulations, an established drug delivery modality to reduce parenteral dosing complexity, fixed-dose combinations, an emerging concept to complement combination therapy, and (connected) on-body delivery systems, an identified future opportunity to support dosing outside of a controlled healthcare institutional environment. EXPERT OPINION Leveraging existing synergies and learnings from other disease areas is a measure to reduce associated development and commercialization costs and thus to provide sustainable product offerings already at the initial launch of a medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Bittner
- Global Product Strategy - Product Optimization, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
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Lengyel CG, Habeeb BS, Altuna SC, Trapani D, Khan SZ, Hussain S. The Global Landscape on the Access to Cancer Medicines for Breast Cancer: The ONCOLLEGE Experience. Cancer Treat Res 2023; 188:353-368. [PMID: 38175353 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-33602-7_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
There is a growing global debate over barriers affecting the timely access to innovative anticancer therapies. Access to medicines is often traced back to the issue of costs: however, more commonly, the distance between valuable innovative treatments and the actual treatment of patients is far beyond the mere problem of financial barriers. A comprehensive approach to understand, assess to medicines should be pursued, to dissect the determinants and formulate solutions for all patients. In this chapter, we discuss drivers of access to innovation for patients with breast cancer, based on a case study of access to HER2-diagnositcs and therapeutics yielding a global landscape analysis, based on the efforts and expertise of the global collaborative group "ONCOLLEGE".
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Baker Shalal Habeeb
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shaqlawa Teaching Hospital, Shaqlawa, Erbil, 44005, Iraq
| | | | - Dario Trapani
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Shah Zeb Khan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Bannu Institute of Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy (BINOR), Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Sadaqat Hussain
- Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 5WW, UK
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Erfani P, Gaga E, Hakizimana E, Kayitare E, Mugunga JC, Shyirambere C, Milner DA, Shulman LN, Ruhangaza D, Fadelu T. Breast cancer molecular diagnostics in Rwanda: a cost-minimization study of immunohistochemistry versus a novel GeneXpert ® mRNA expression assay. Bull World Health Organ 2023; 101:10-19. [PMID: 36593782 PMCID: PMC9795380 DOI: 10.2471/blt.22.288800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To compare the financial and time cost of breast cancer biomarker analysis by immunohistochemistry with that by the Xpert® STRAT4 assay. Methods We estimated costs (personnel, location, consumables and indirect) and time involved in breast cancer diagnosis at the Butaro Cancer Centre of Excellence, Rwanda, using time-driven activity-based costing. We performed a cost-minimization analysis to compare the cost of biomarker analysis for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 status with immunohistochemistry versus STRAT4. We performed sensitivity analyses by altering laboratory-specific parameters for the two methods. Findings We estimated that breast cancer diagnosis in Rwanda costs 138.29 United States dollars (US$) per patient when conducting biomarker analysis by immunohistochemistry. At a realistic immunohistochemistry antibody utilization efficiency of 70%, biomarker analysis comprises 48.7% (US$ 67.33) of diagnostic costs and takes 33 min. We determined that biomarker analysis with STRAT4 yields a reduction in diagnosis cost of US$ 7.33 (10.9%; 7.33/67.33), and in pathologist and technician time of 20 min (60.6%; 20/33), per patient. Our sensitivity analysis revealed that no cost savings would be made in laboratories with antibody utilization efficiencies over 90%, or where only estrogen and/or progesterone receptor status are assessed; however, such operational efficiencies are unlikely, and more laboratories are pursuing human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 analysis as targeted therapies become increasingly available. Conclusion Breast cancer biomarker analysis with STRAT4 has the potential to reduce the required human and capital resources in sub-Saharan African laboratories, leading to improved treatment selection and better clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parsa Erfani
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States of America (USA)
| | - Esther Gaga
- University of Global Health Equity, Butaro, Rwanda
| | | | | | | | | | - Dan A Milner
- American Society for Clinical Pathology, Chicago, USA
| | | | | | - Temidayo Fadelu
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, MA-1B-17, Boston, Massachusetts02215, USA
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Haier J, Schaefers J. Economic Perspective of Cancer Care and Its Consequences for Vulnerable Groups. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14133158. [PMID: 35804928 PMCID: PMC9265013 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary For cancer patients, many different reasons can cause financial burdens and economic threads. Sociodemographic factors, rural/remote location and income are known determinants for these vulnerable groups. This economic vulnerability is related to the reduced utilization of cancer care and the impact on outcome. Financial burden has been reported in many countries throughout the world and needs to be addressed as part of the sufficient quality of cancer care. Abstract Within healthcare systems in all countries, vulnerable groups of patients can be identified and are characterized by the reduced utilization of available healthcare. Many different reasons can be attributed to this observation, summarized as implementation barriers involving acceptance, accessibility, affordability, acceptability and quality of care. For many patients, cancer care is specifically associated with the occurrence of vulnerability due to the complex disease, very different target groups and delivery situations (from prevention to palliative care) as well as cost-intensive care. Sociodemographic factors, such as educational level, rural/remote location and income, are known determinants for these vulnerable groups. However, different forms of financial burdens likely influence this vulnerability in cancer care delivery in a distinct manner. In a narrative review, these socioeconomic challenges are summarized regarding their occurrence and consequences to current cancer care. Overall, besides direct costs such as for treatment, many facets of indirect costs including survivorship costs for the cancer patients and their social environment need to be considered regarding the impact on vulnerability, treatment compliance and abundance. In addition, individual cancer-related financial burden might also affect the society due to the loss of productivity and workforce availability. Healthcare providers are requested to address this vulnerability during the treatment of cancer patients.
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Fadelu TA, Buswell L, Anderson BO. Improving Adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Innovative Nurse-Driven Solutions. Oncologist 2022; 27:607-609. [PMID: 35699645 PMCID: PMC9355825 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyac112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Temidayo A Fadelu
- Center for Global Cancer Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lori Buswell
- Center for Global Cancer Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin O Anderson
- World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Surgery and Global Health-Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Global challenges and policy solutions in breast cancer control. Cancer Treat Rev 2022; 104:102339. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2022.102339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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