Inequalities in oncology care: Economic consequences of high cost drugs

The expenditures for hospital drugs are continuously increasing, and grow much faster than the global hospital budgets do. This explosive growth is caused mainly by a few so-called ‘expensive drugs’ of which the oncolytics form the main part. The global budgets should stimulate more effective provision of care (‘technical efficiency’), however the room for technical efficiency is decreasing. Hospitals thus have to make impossible choices, so that eventually equal access can no longer be guaranteed. If no other policies are applied, health care goals will no longer be met. This paper tries to map the contours of the current problem and its possible solutions. It is time governments take up their responsibility and take back control.