Health system cost of breast cancer treatment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

<h4>Background</h4>Breast cancer is the leading cancer among women with an annual crude incidence of 27.4 per 100,000 in Ethiopia. The aims of this study were to (a) estimate the unit cost of breast cancer treatment for the standard Ethiopian patient, (b) identify the cost drivers, (c) p...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tamiru Demeke, Wondimu Ayele, Damen Haile Mariam, Andreas Wienke, Mathewos Assefa, Adamu Addissie, Rafael Mikolajczyk, Susanne Unverzagt, Eva Johanna Kantelhardt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275171
_version_ 1817985565085138944
author Tamiru Demeke
Wondimu Ayele
Damen Haile Mariam
Andreas Wienke
Mathewos Assefa
Adamu Addissie
Rafael Mikolajczyk
Susanne Unverzagt
Eva Johanna Kantelhardt
author_facet Tamiru Demeke
Wondimu Ayele
Damen Haile Mariam
Andreas Wienke
Mathewos Assefa
Adamu Addissie
Rafael Mikolajczyk
Susanne Unverzagt
Eva Johanna Kantelhardt
author_sort Tamiru Demeke
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Breast cancer is the leading cancer among women with an annual crude incidence of 27.4 per 100,000 in Ethiopia. The aims of this study were to (a) estimate the unit cost of breast cancer treatment for the standard Ethiopian patient, (b) identify the cost drivers, (c) project the total cost of breast cancer treatment for the next five years, and (d) estimate the economic burden of the disease in the main specialized tertiary hospital-Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) Addis Ababa.<h4>Methods</h4>Primary data were collected from health and non-health professionals. Secondary data were collected from patient`s charts and official reports from various national and international organisations including data from TASH. To establish work-time estimates, we asked professionals on their time usage.<h4>Result</h4>A total of US$ 33,261 was incurred to treat 52 Addis Ababa resident female breast cancer patients in TASH between July 2017 and June 2019. The unit cost of treatment for a hypothetical breast cancer patient to complete her treatment was US$ 536 for stage I and US$ 705 for stage II and III using the existing infrastructure. This cost increased to US$ 955 for stage I and US$ 1157 for stage II and III when infrastructure amortization was considered. The projected total costs of breast cancer treatment in TASH is between US$ 540,000 and US$ 1.48million. However, this will increase to US$ 870,000 and US$ 2.29 million when the existing fixed assets are changed.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The economic burden of breast cancer treatment is high compared to the economic status of the country. Thus, it is recommended that TASH should revise its charges and breast cancer should be included in the Social and Community based health insurance scheme. JEL classification: H51, H75, I18, P46.
first_indexed 2024-04-13T23:59:46Z
format Article
id doaj.art-dc4be1bda5f44ff39da7ed1868582b4f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T23:59:46Z
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-dc4be1bda5f44ff39da7ed1868582b4f2022-12-22T02:23:45ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-011710e027517110.1371/journal.pone.0275171Health system cost of breast cancer treatment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Tamiru DemekeWondimu AyeleDamen Haile MariamAndreas WienkeMathewos AssefaAdamu AddissieRafael MikolajczykSusanne UnverzagtEva Johanna Kantelhardt<h4>Background</h4>Breast cancer is the leading cancer among women with an annual crude incidence of 27.4 per 100,000 in Ethiopia. The aims of this study were to (a) estimate the unit cost of breast cancer treatment for the standard Ethiopian patient, (b) identify the cost drivers, (c) project the total cost of breast cancer treatment for the next five years, and (d) estimate the economic burden of the disease in the main specialized tertiary hospital-Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) Addis Ababa.<h4>Methods</h4>Primary data were collected from health and non-health professionals. Secondary data were collected from patient`s charts and official reports from various national and international organisations including data from TASH. To establish work-time estimates, we asked professionals on their time usage.<h4>Result</h4>A total of US$ 33,261 was incurred to treat 52 Addis Ababa resident female breast cancer patients in TASH between July 2017 and June 2019. The unit cost of treatment for a hypothetical breast cancer patient to complete her treatment was US$ 536 for stage I and US$ 705 for stage II and III using the existing infrastructure. This cost increased to US$ 955 for stage I and US$ 1157 for stage II and III when infrastructure amortization was considered. The projected total costs of breast cancer treatment in TASH is between US$ 540,000 and US$ 1.48million. However, this will increase to US$ 870,000 and US$ 2.29 million when the existing fixed assets are changed.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The economic burden of breast cancer treatment is high compared to the economic status of the country. Thus, it is recommended that TASH should revise its charges and breast cancer should be included in the Social and Community based health insurance scheme. JEL classification: H51, H75, I18, P46.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275171
spellingShingle Tamiru Demeke
Wondimu Ayele
Damen Haile Mariam
Andreas Wienke
Mathewos Assefa
Adamu Addissie
Rafael Mikolajczyk
Susanne Unverzagt
Eva Johanna Kantelhardt
Health system cost of breast cancer treatment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
PLoS ONE
title Health system cost of breast cancer treatment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
title_full Health system cost of breast cancer treatment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
title_fullStr Health system cost of breast cancer treatment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
title_full_unstemmed Health system cost of breast cancer treatment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
title_short Health system cost of breast cancer treatment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
title_sort health system cost of breast cancer treatment in addis ababa ethiopia
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275171
work_keys_str_mv AT tamirudemeke healthsystemcostofbreastcancertreatmentinaddisababaethiopia
AT wondimuayele healthsystemcostofbreastcancertreatmentinaddisababaethiopia
AT damenhailemariam healthsystemcostofbreastcancertreatmentinaddisababaethiopia
AT andreaswienke healthsystemcostofbreastcancertreatmentinaddisababaethiopia
AT mathewosassefa healthsystemcostofbreastcancertreatmentinaddisababaethiopia
AT adamuaddissie healthsystemcostofbreastcancertreatmentinaddisababaethiopia
AT rafaelmikolajczyk healthsystemcostofbreastcancertreatmentinaddisababaethiopia
AT susanneunverzagt healthsystemcostofbreastcancertreatmentinaddisababaethiopia
AT evajohannakantelhardt healthsystemcostofbreastcancertreatmentinaddisababaethiopia