ASCO 2016 Highlight: Why Do Cancer Drug Prices Differ So Much Between Countries?
Key Findings
The median monthly retail price ranged from $1,515 in India to $8,694 in the U.S. for patented drugs. For generic drugs, the median monthly retail price was the highest in the United States ($654) and lowest in South Africa ($120) and India ($159).
In terms of ability to pay, cancer drugs appeared to be most affordable in Australia, with monthly drug prices of 3% of GDPcapPPP for generics and 71% of GDPcapPPP for patented drugs. The countries with the lowest ability to pay were China and India. In China the monthly price of generics was 48% of GDPcapPPP and 288% for patented drugs. In India, the cost of generics was 33% of GDPcapPPP and the cost of patented drugs 313% of GDPcapPPP. In the U.S., the cost of generics was 14% of GDPcapPPP and cost of patented cancer drugs was 192% of GDPcapPPP.
The study did not take into account the health insurance systems in different countries. Depending who is purchasing the medication in a given country, either the government, insurance company, or the patient may suffer the brunt of the burden of financial toxicity.
This study was unfunded.
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