Treating haematological cancer is twice as costly as treating other cancers, according to a major European study published today.
In total disorders of the blood cost a total of 23 billion Euros across Europe in 2012, according to the research.
The study included the 28 current EU countries, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
The researchers from Oxford University, UK, and King’s College, London, have published their findings in The Lancet Haematology.
Their analysis of costs included costs of informal care and loss of productivity.
They found that seven billion Euros – or equivalent – was spent on hospital in-patient care and four billion on medications. Another five billion was spent on other healthcare costs.
They concluded that haematological cancer was responsible for 12% of health spending on cancer – second only to disease of the breast, responsible for 13% of spending.
Researcher Dr Jose Leal, from Oxford, said today: "Non-malignant blood disorders cost the European economy nearly as much as all blood cancers combined.
“We found wide differences in the cost of treating blood disorders in different countries, likely linked to the significant differences in the access and delivery of care for patients with blood disorders.
"Our findings suggest there is a need to harmonise care of blood disorders across Europe in a cost-effective way.”
Economic burden of malignant blood disorders across Europe: a population-based cost analysis. Lancet Haematol 21 July 2016 [abstract]
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