Suchergebnisse

Globally, breast cancer management is associated with a heavy economic burden, but its impact in Saudi Arabia has not been fully quantified. The aim of this study was to estimate the economic burden of breast cancer management at various disease stages, in Saudi Arabia, from a payer perspective. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter cost of illness study in two governmental healthcare centers from January to December 2018, using the data of 300 patients at different breast cancer stages. A micro-costing, bottom-up method was used, and descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed. The total estimated cost for treating breast cancer during the study period was $13.345 million USD, with the average cost per patient ranging from $14,249 USD in stage I to $81,489 USD in stage IV (p < 0.001). Medication cost was the main driver of total healthcare spending, followed by hospitalization and diagnostic tests. The cost of targeted therapy drugs represented 67% of the total medication costs, mostly driven by trastuzumab-based regimens. The economic burden of breast cancer management in Saudi Arabia is substantial and increases significantly with disease advancement. Early detection screening programs, evaluating the value of highly expensive interventions, and considering biosimilars, may contribute toward cost savings.

BACKGROUND: The need for graduate education in Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy Research (POPR) is becoming increasingly apparent worldwide. However, the number of professionals in this field is inadequate in the Middle East. Therefore, this study aimed at gaining insight into the perceived value of a potential Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in POPR among different stakeholders in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Following the development of a Ph.D. program structure in POPR, a questionnaire was created to explore the perception of its value among decision-makers in different healthcare and governmental institutions. An email with detailed information on the proposed program was sent to 131 identified individuals along with an online link to the questionnaire. RESULTS: Responses were provided by 107 (81.67%) individuals. The majority of respondents (53.3%) represented large organizations with more than 500 workers; hospitals and academia were the most represented types of institutions. More than 85% of the participants strongly agreed that the program will meet the needs of the healthcare market in Saudi Arabia and that there will be a demand for graduates of the program over the next 5–10 years. However, only 28.04% of the participants declared that they would definitely recommend the program to their colleagues and employees, and 49.53% would consider employing its graduates. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results indicate a significant interest among different stakeholders in introducing a Ph.D. program in POPR in Saudi Arabia.