Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide, and it poses a significant economic burden on patients and health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

A recent study published in The Lancet examined the cost of breast cancer treatment, out-of-pocket payment, and reimbursement in a cohort of 429 patients who sought treatment at a publicly funded tertiary cancer care hospital in India.

The study found that the average total cost of breast cancer treatment was ₹258,095 (US$3531), of which 72.2% was paid out-of-pocket by the patients.

The study also revealed that only 8% of the patients received full reimbursement and that the reimbursement from various sources was insufficient to prevent high out-of-pocket payments.

The study suggested that there is a need to increase the insurance coverage and the reimbursement limits for breast cancer treatment in India, as well as to include cancer treatment in social health insurance schemes, to reduce the financial hardship of cancer patients.

The study is the first to longitudinally capture the costs incurred by patients undergoing breast cancer treatment in India, and it provides valuable insights for health policy and planning.