Publication:

Cost analysis of patients with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant treatment at oncology ward of No. (2) Military Hospital (500 bedded), Yangon

Background Breast cancer is a major public health concern among women associated with substantial amount of economic burden so as to assess the cost for treating breast cancer. This study aimed to identify the cost of patient with breast cancer who undergoing adjuvant treatment at Medical Oncology Ward of No. (2) Military Hospital (500 Bedded), Yangon.

Methods The hospital based cross-sectional descriptive study was done with total of 33 patients by using semi-structured proforma and reviewing records. The top-down gross-costing method and bottom-up micro-costing method were applied for the direct and indirect costs.

Results Among patients, their mean age was 55±10 years, almost all of the patients were married with at least three children. The mean family income was 131.49±50.09 USD. It was found that 26 patients were newly diagnosed and started treatment in 2023. The total provider cost was 14,500 USD in which the radiation therapy cost was the highest, followed by chemotherapy, and then food cost was the lowest. The total patient cost was 1,188 USD in which travel cost was the highest, followed by food cost and then caregiver cost was the lowest. The unit cost of treating breast cancer was 475 USD in which the provider expensed above 90% of them.

Conclusions This study provides basic cost information for treating breast cancer from both the provider and patient perspective that useful for developing future budgeting of cancer care and allocation for equal access to sustainable oncology care in Myanmar medical context.