Inequalities in oncology care: Economic consequences of high cost drugs.
The expenditures for hospital drugs are continuously increasing, and grow much faster than the global hospital budgets do. This explosive growth is caused mainly by a few so-called 'expensive drugs' of which the oncolytics form the main part. The global budgets should stimulate more effective provision of care ('technical efficiency'), however the room for technical efficiency is decreasing. Hospitals thus have to make impossible choices, so that eventually equal access can no longer be guaranteed. If no other policies are applied, health care goals will no longer be met. This paper tries to map the contours of the current problem and its possible solutions. It is time governments take up their responsibility and take back control.
Niezen
Maartje G H
MG
Institute for Health Policy and Management, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.g.h.niezen@erasmusmc.nl <m.g.h.niezen@erasmusmc.nl>
Stolk
Elly A
EA
Steenhoek
Adri
A
Uyl-De Groot
Carin A
CA
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000191:economics*; D002017:Budgets; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005544:Forecasting; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006291:Health Policy; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents