OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer ranks highest in both incidence and mortality among all cancers affecting women in Vojvodina, the northern region of Serbia. Alongside prioritizing therapy effectiveness and safety, there is a crucial need to highlight treatment costs and ensure the optimal use of scarce resources.This study aimed to assess the overall economic burden of breast cancer in Vojvodina, as well as the ratio of direct and indirect costs in 2019.

METHODS: Costs were estimated using Cost of Illness (COI) evaluation, from a social perspective, based on the prevalence of the disease. The total costs encompassed both direct and indirect expenditures. Direct costs related to breast cancer encompassed costs associated with screening, hospitalization, outpatient services, and prescribed medications. Indirect costs were calculated using a human capital approach, covering expenditures related to the lost productivity due to sick leave, premature retirement, and premature death.

RESULTS: The estimated total expenditure for breast cancer in Vojvodina in 2019 amounted to 15 million euros. Of the total costs, direct costs amounted to 5 million euros, comprising 34% of the overall costs.Hospital treatment costs accounted for 76% of the direct costs, with screening expenses representing just 1%. Indirect costs amounted to 10 million euros, constituting 66% of the total cost. The primary driver was attributed to production losses caused by premature retirement, which accounted for 50% of the indirect costs.

CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer places a substantial financial burden on both the healthcare system and society in Vojvodina, amounting to 0.12% of the GDP. The share of indirect costs within the overall costs can offer valuable insights to healthcare decision-makers, aiding in the more effective allocation of limited resources towards breast cancer prevention and early detection strategies.