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WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR LUNG CANCER TREATMENT: PATIENT VERSUS GENERAL PUBLIC VALUES

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 September 2015

Sumitra Thongprasert ,
Bruce Crawford ,
Rungpetch Sakulbumrungsil ,
Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk ,
Sirinthip Petcharapiruch ,
Jittrakul Leartsakulpanitch  and
Unchalee Permsuwan
Sumitra Thongprasert
Affiliation:
Chiang Mai University
Bruce Crawford
Affiliation:
Adelphi [email protected]
Rungpetch Sakulbumrungsil
Affiliation:
Chulalongkorn University
Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk
Affiliation:
Monash University Sunway Campus
Sirinthip Petcharapiruch
Affiliation:
Pfizer (Thailand)
Jittrakul Leartsakulpanitch
Affiliation:
Pfizer (Thailand)
Unchalee Permsuwan
Affiliation:
Chiang Mai University
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Abstract

Objectives: Lung cancer has been the most common cancer since 1985, accounting for 12–13 percent of cancer cases worldwide. Newer targeted therapies with potential increased survival benefits may not be affordable to patients. Many countries use arbitrary thresholds to determine whether a medical intervention is cost-effective. As such, many effective, albeit expensive, therapies are not being reimbursed. To understand the value placed on effective therapies, this study evaluates the patient and public willingness to pay (WTP) for a quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) for lung cancer treatments using Thailand as an example.

Methods: A total of 300 subjects responded to hypothetical lung cancer health states, described by three levels of severity and two levels of side effects, and provided their valuation of the level of quality of life and their WTP to improve from one state to another.

Results: The patients with the lowest income and general public were willing to pay more than twice the threshold for acceptability in Thailand (US Dollar 5,123/QALY [Thai Baht 160,000/QALY]). This increased significantly by wealth category. Patients’ WTP was associated with quality of life, financial difficulties, health insurance, diarrhea, and wealth.

Conclusions: The current study highlights the value patients and general public place on effective lung cancer therapies.

Keywords

Lung cancerWillingness-to-payHealth economicsCancer treatmentPharmacoeconomics
Type
Assessments
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 31 , Issue 4 , 2015 , pp. 264 - 270
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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References

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