title: Cost of treatment for cancer: experiences of patients in public hospitals in India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the treatment pattern and expenditure incurred by cancer patients undergoing treatment at government tertiary hospitals in India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of 508 cancer patients randomly selected from tertiary cancer hospitals funded by central/state governments located in major cities of five states in India, namely Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Mizoram, during March - May 2011 was conducted. Information related to direct costs, indirect costs and opportunity costs incurred on investigations and treatment, major source of payment and difficulties faced by patients during the course of treatment was collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 45% of the patients used private health facilities as the first point of contact for cancer related diseases as against 32% in public hospitals. About 47% sought private health facilities for cancer investigations, 21% at district/sub-district hospitals, and about 4% contacted primary health care facilities. A majority of the patients (76%) faced financial problems while undergoing treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results highlight the importance of involving the primary health care system in the cancer prevention activities.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India E-mail : ksnair.
authors.forename: Kesavan Sreekantan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Sherin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: Vijay Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: Lam Khan
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Piang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000191:economics*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016304:Hospitals, Private / Q000191:economics*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy