The economics of improved cancer survival rates: better outcomes, higher costs.
In 2006, over three million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in Europe. This number will increase in the coming years as a result of an aging population and population growth. Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer have resulted in increased survival rates. Simultaneously, increasing costs of screening, diagnosis and the treatment of cancer could threaten the ability to ensure high-quality care and provide access to care for all patients. New genetic tests and biomarkers may help to identify those subtypes of patients that would be most likely to benefit from new cancer drugs. In our opinion, there is still much to gain in cancer diagnosis and treatment but these gains should be worth the costs.
Uyl-de Groot
Carin A
CA
Institute for Medical Technology Assessment, Institute of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. uyl@bmg.eur.nl
de Groot
Saskia
S
Steenhoek
Adri
A
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005820:Genetic Testing; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D018579:Patient Selection; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor