Estimating the economic burden of cancer at a tertiary public hospital: A Study at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences

This report is based on a prospective study which attempted to estimate the cost of treatment borne by the cancer patients at an academic tertiary public hospital. There is a lack of information about the financial burden of major illness like cancer on patient and their families. An understanding of the out-of pocket expenditures required for cancer care can improve the health care delivery process in India, both for the patients and families on one side, and the health professionals and administrators on the other side. This study estimated the expenditures done by the surveyed patients for diagnosis and initial cancer-directed treatments, as direct and indirect costs. The sampled cancer patients have monthly per capita income (MPCI) of IRS 1749(0-25,000). The economic burden of cancer therapy calculated as mean (average) costs to patient amounted to IRS. 36,812 and it consisted of: IRS 14,597 spent before coming to the hospital, IRS 14,031 at the hospital, and IRS 8,184 during the prolonged period of radiotherapy course. Out of the one million newly diagnosed cancer patients per year in India, nearly 50 percent are suitable for curative aim cancer-directed therapy. It will be a highly justifiable approach to make financial provision for those cancer patients who can not meet the treatment costs and may be denied the benefits of cancer care.