85 Percent of Cancer Patients and Families Bankrupt

the beginning of Phase II Study of ASEAN Costs in Oncology showed that 85 percent of patients and families go bankrupt because of the cost of medicines and cancer treatments. This indication has the potential for cancer medium-and low-income families are becoming increasingly impoverished.

"If the families are suffering from breast cancer, treatment costs could reach USD 200 million a year. So, people who earn Rp 10 million per month can go bankrupt, "says Prof. Hasbullah Thabrany Center for the Study of Health Economics and Policy Analysis, University of Indonesia, at the launch of Phase II Study of ASEAN Costs in Oncology (Action), Friday (16/12), in Jakarta.

Action is a multinational study on the socio-economic impacts of cancer conducted by The George Institute, Sydney, facilitated by the ASEAN Foundation and Roche Asia Pacific. Studies conducted in eight countries of ASEAN, namely Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. In Indonesia, the study will be carried Faculty of Public Health, University of Indonesia, in 2400 cancer patients and families.

The study began in January 2012 in 12 hospitals, namely RS Dharmais, Cipto Mangunkusumo, RS Medistra, and MRCCC (Jakarta); Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital (Bandung); RS dr Kariadi (Semarang); dr Sardjito Hospital (Yogyakarta); RS dr Sutomo and Clinical Oncology (Surabaya); RS Sanglah (Denpasar); RS dr Wahidin Sudirohusodo (Makassar), and Dr. Adam Malik Hospital (Medan).

Input to government

During the year the patient and family monitored financial burden, in terms of care or indirect costs, such as transportation. In addition to knowing the amount of cost to cancer patients and their families during treatment, the study results can be considered policy-making in cancer control. According to Hasbullah, the study will be completed in 2013, and is expected to be input for government policy related to the implementation of the National Social Security System in 2014.

Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih supporting this study. He said, cancer is one of the main causes of global mortality rate of 13 percent (7.4 million) of all deaths per year. As many as 70 percent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle income countries.

According to the Basic Health Research 2007, the prevalence of tumors 4.3 per 1,000 population in Indonesia. Seven causes of cancer death after stroke, tuberculosis, hypertension, injury, perinatal, and diabetes. According to hospital information systems, the highest type of cancer in hospitals throughout Indonesia in hospitalized patients in 2008 were breast cancer (18.4 percent), followed by cervical cancer (10.3 percent).

In Indonesia, 70 percent of cancer cases are found at an advanced stage. As a result, low survival rates and absorb large budget. Data PT Askes, cancer ranks fourth absorption outpatient costs and follow-up in 2010.

(ICH)