Assessing Direct Medical Costs of Stage IV NSCLC in Iraq From Public Payer Perspective

Speaker(s)

Algaban B1, Al-Malahwish T1, Al-Asadi AR2, Abdulsalam M1, Bassil Y3
1Iraq Ministry of Health, Directorate of Technical Affairs, Department of Need Estimation, Health Technology Assessment, Baghdad, Iraq, 2Medical Oncologist, Iraq MOH, Oncology Consultant Committee, Baghdad, Iraq, 3Center for Clinical Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Beirut, BA, Lebanon

Presentation Documents

OBJECTIVES: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the first cause of cancer related death among men and the second among women worldwide including Iraq. It also poses an economic threat to the sustainability of healthcare services. This study estimated the direct medical costs of care for patients in the Iraq population with NSCLC stage IV from the Ministry of Health perspective.

METHODS: This study combined primary and secondary sources employing mathematical modeling using a bottom-up approach. A focused literature review was conducted to examine resource utilization (laboratory tests, imaging, physician consultation and hospitalization), and adverse events (AEs) rates (Grades 3-4) as well as their management. Treatment regimens were derived from the most updated Iraqi guidelines. All retrieved data were verified and validated through an expert workshop that included prominent expert oncologists, clinical pharmacists, and policy makers from the Ministry of Health. Costs related to medications, radiation and resources were extracted from the Ministry of Health dataset in 2023-2024. AEs costs were calculated using a micro-costing approach following ISPOR guidelines. The costs of treating stage IV were determined considering the total number of patients, median number of cycles and resources utilization frequency.

RESULTS: The annual economic burden of stage IV NSCLC was estimated to be 8.2 million USD (N=833), with medication cost (6.55 million USD) being the cost driver, followed by resource utilization (1.6 million USD), radiotherapy (134,113 USD) and AEs treatment cost (48,323USD). The average cost per patient was 10,201 USD.

CONCLUSIONS: Estimating the direct medical costs of stage IV NSCLC is fundamental to understand the impact of new therapies on healthcare services and guide policymakers in resource allocation and policy development. This first NSCLC study in Iraq will support future HEOR research on innovation in Stage IV NSCLC treatment.

Code

EE840

Topic

Economic Evaluation

Disease

Oncology