Economic Perspective of Cancer Care and Its Consequences for Vulnerable Groups

Abstract

Within healthcare systems in all countries, vulnerable groups of patients can be identified and are characterized by the reduced utilization of available healthcare. Many different reasons can be attributed to this observation, summarized as implementation barriers involving acceptance, accessibility, affordability, acceptability and quality of care. For many patients, cancer care is specifically associated with the occurrence of vulnerability due to the complex disease, very different target groups and delivery situations (from prevention to palliative care) as well as cost-intensive care. Sociodemographic factors, such as educational level, rural/remote location and income, are known determinants for these vulnerable groups. However, different forms of financial burdens likely influence this vulnerability in cancer care delivery in a distinct manner. In a narrative review, these socioeconomic challenges are summarized regarding their occurrence and consequences to current cancer care. Overall, besides direct costs such as for treatment, many facets of indirect costs including survivorship costs for the cancer patients and their social environment need to be considered regarding the impact on vulnerability, treatment compliance and abundance. In addition, individual cancer-related financial burden might also affect the society due to the loss of productivity and workforce availability. Healthcare providers are requested to address this vulnerability during the treatment of cancer patients.

Targeting Cancer Cell Signaling Using Precision Oncology Towards a Holistic Approach to Cancer Therapeutics

“…The National Cancer Program that was borne from this initiative resulted in the beginning of a concerted effort across the length and breadth of the country to develop the infrastructures required for the treatment, cure, and eradication of cancer. A similar approach was adopted by most other developed and developing nations in the following years to combat the menace of cancer, and it has succeeded in satisfying the purpose to a good extent, as the findings reveal that overall morbidity from cancer has decreased and net survival rates, both short-term and long-term, for all cancers combined have increased substantially since then, and as the evidence suggests, the demographic factors as feared, do play a role in it [6,7]. The survival rates for cancer types that are responsive to therapy surpass 90% in developed countries, and the prognosis for several other cancer types that were considered the deadliest diseases earlier has improved noticeably in recent decades thanks to rapid advances in clinical oncology [8.9].…”

Precision Oncology-Based Targeting of Signaling Pathways toward a Holistic Approach to Cancer Therapeutics

“…The National Cancer Program that was borne from this initiative resulted at the beginning of a concerted effort across the length and breadth of the country to develop the infrastructures required for the treatment, cure and eradication of cancer. A similar approach was adopted by most other developed and developing nations in the following years to combat the menace of cancer, and it has succeeded in satisfying the purpose to a good extent, as the findings reveal that overall morbidity from cancer has decreased and net survival rates, both short-term and long-term, for all cancers combined have increased substantially since then, and as the evidence suggests, the demographic factors as feared do play a role in it [6,7]. The survival rates for cancer types that are responsive to therapy surpass 90% in developed countries, and the prognosis for several other cancer types that were considered the deadliest diseases earlier has improved noticeably in recent decades thanks to rapid advances in clinical oncology [8.9].…”

Precision Oncology-Based Targeting of Signaling Pathways toward a Holistic Approach to Cancer Therapeutics

“…The National Cancer Program that was borne from this initiative resulted in the beginning of a concerted effort across the length and breadth of the country to develop the infrastructures required for the treatment, cure, and eradication of cancer. A similar approach was adopted by most other developed and developing nations in the following years to combat cancer as the leading cause of death globally, and it has succeeded in satisfying the purpose to a good extent since then despite the fact as feared and the evidence suggests, the demographic factors do play a role in it [6,7]. The findings reveal, overall morbidity from cancer has decreased and net survival rates, both shortterm and long-term, for all cancers combined have increased substantially in the past decades.…”