IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 3728: Availability, Price and Affordability of Anticancer Medicines: Evidence from Two Cross-Sectional Surveys in the Jiangsu Province, China

Conclusion: There were concerning decreases in the availability of anticancer medicines in 2016 from already low availability in 2012. Anticancer medicines were more affordable for the patients in high-income regions than the patients in low-income regions. Governments should consider using their bargaining power to reduce procurement prices and abolish taxes on anticancer medicines. Policy should focus on the special health insurance plan for low-income patients with cancer. The goal of drug policy should ensure that first-line generic drugs are available for cancer patients and preferentially prescribed.
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research