Relevance of health economics in breast cancer treatment - the view of certified breast centres and their patients.
Breast cancer centres - certified in accordance with the criteria of the German Cancer Association and the German Mastology Association - are established throughout Germany. Although the setting up of centres and the subsequent need for certification are associated with a marked increase in costs, initial data show positive effects on quality. Certified centres are cost-effective from the point of view of health economics - they lead to improved quality in processes and results without creating any increase in costs for the funding bodies. However, the organization of the necessary structures, with interdisciplinary treatment, documentation and quality-assurance measures, requires considerable resources. Increasing consolidation of inpatient services is also involved, while shortening of the patients' hospitalization periods is leading to reduced remuneration from the funding bodies. The current cost deficits, which have resulted from the increased resources required, need to be recouped through additional charges. It will only be possible to maintain the high quality achieved if additional charges become available to cover the centres' added costs. Good data are increasingly becoming available as a basis for negotiations on charges - e.g., with regard to the quality of results and the National Cancer Plan - as well as clear support from patients.
University Breast Centre for Franconia, Department of Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany.
Michael
M
Lux
University Breast Centre for Franconia, Department of Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany.
Thomas
T
Hildebrandt
Frauenselbsthilfe nach Krebs e.V., Erlangen, Germany.
Elke
E
Beyer-Finkler
University Breast Centre for Franconia, Department of Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany.
Mayada
M
Bani
University Breast Centre for Franconia, Department of Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany.
Christian
C
Loehberg
University Breast Centre for Franconia, Department of Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany.
Sebastian
S
Jud
University Breast Centre for Franconia, Department of Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany.
Claudia
C
Rauh
University Breast Centre for Franconia, Department of Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany.
Michael
M
Schrauder
University Breast Centre for Franconia, Department of Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany.
Peter
P
Fasching
University Breast Centre for Franconia, Department of Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany.
Matthias
M
Beckmann
Breast cancer; Certified centres; Cost-effectiveness; Economics; Health economics