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Determining breast cancer treatment costs using the top down cost approach

Rukiye Numanoglu Tekin

 Breast cancer is a public health issue which causes mortality in addition to significant disease burden both in Turkey and in the world. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Turkey, with approximately 15.000 breast cancer diagnoses each year. In this study, our goal was to determine annual direct medical costs of all breast cancer patients treated in Turkey in 2014 from the perspective of SSI. Data regarding patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and received health services from any hospital which was contracted with Social Security Institution (SSI) in Turkey in 2014 were used for the purpose of the study. Data were obtained from the MEDULA System for a total of 126.664 breast cancer patient. Treatment of costs of patients diagnosed with breast cancer were calculated based on types of patient admissions (inpatient/outpatient/intensive care) and costs of drugs and medical equipments. Indirect costs and out of pocket costs were not included.Total medical costs of 126,664 patients was calculated as $116.792.107,9, with an average treatment cost per patient of $922,1. Based on types of patient admission, intensive care treatment had the highest average cost with $2.916.5. In metastatic breast cancer patients, average annual treatment cost per patient is $2.326,6, which is 2.8 times higher compared to non-metastatic breast cancer patients. In order to ensure effective resource allocation at micro and macro level, healthcare administrators have to learn about financial costs of diseases with high incidence such as breast cancer patients. Results obtained from studies on disease costs calculated using the top down cost approach provide data on actual health services use and therefore are seen as important tools for healthcare administrators in terms of effective resource allocation.