Cost analysis of Anti-Cancer drugs used in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Sharmada Nerlekar; Shariva Ranadive; Rajmohan Seetharaman; Sagar Karia

Volume : IX, Issue : II, February - 2020

Cost analysis of Anti-Cancer drugs used in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Sharmada Nerlekar, Shariva Ranadive, Rajmohan Seetharaman, Sagar Karia

Abstract :

Background: Anti–cancer drugs are costly & are the main reasons for poor compliance in India & with increase in number of anti–cancer medicine ands, there can be difficulty in prescribing more cost effective and to the patient.[3] Therefore it becomes increasingly necessary to examine issues of comparability across different pharmacological agents as well as individual user costs to influence the compliance of patients. Aim: To evaluate the cost of anti–cancer drugs of different generic classes & different and names & to analyse price variation among various anti–cancer drugs available in India. Methodology: The Current Index of Medical Specialities android app containing the latest updates was used to analyze the prices of various anti–cancer drugs. The cost of each molecule of different strengths was tabulated and cost range and % price variation were calculated. Results: A wide range of cost variations were seen among different categories of anticancer drugs with maximum price variation was observed in Zoledronic acid [18000%] and the least price variation was seen in Pemitrexate 500 mg. Conclusions: Price control mechanism has an important role and is very much important to reduce the cost burden of treatment particularly in India.