Media release

From: New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA)

Breast cancer costs in New Zealand’s public health system

Summary

The costs of treating breast cancer in New Zealand’s public health system are substantial and have been increasing. Most of the cost was in the first-year post diagnosis, and surgery and immunotherapy cost accounted for the biggest proportion. The greatest costs were for the treatment of younger women and those with more advanced disease

Key Points

• The costs of treating breast cancer in New Zealand’s public health system are substantial and have been increasing.

• The mean public health costs were NZ$44,954 per patient for the period of three months preceding and five years following cancer diagnosis.

• The treatment phase accounting for 70% of the cost and the follow-up phase accounting for the remaining 30%.

• During the treatment phase, surgery costs accounted for the biggest proportion (35%) of the total cost, followed by immunotherapy costs (18%).

• The greatest costs were for the treatment of younger women and those with more advanced disease.