Abstract

ANALYSIS OF THE PUBLIC FUNDS SPENT FOR ANTI-CANCER DRUGS IN BULGARIA

Albena Zlatareva,*

ABSTRACT

Тhe purpose of this study is to analyze the cost of anti-cancer drugs , paid by NHIF in Annex 2 of the PLC for the period 2013-2014 year. It is a macroeconomic analysis of the expenditures paid by the public funds for anti-cancer medicines. Collected are official data for 2013 and 2014 years and is analysed the cost of cancer disease by ICD code, INN, producer, as well as costs for individual diagnoses in these groups of diseases. Spending on anti-cancer medicines in the first nine months of 2014, compared to the first nine months of 2013 Increased by 24.9%. The reason is due to the increased number of patients with a diagnosis of cancer and to expand the treatment of a patient, and the inclusion of new expensive drugs in the PDL ,paid with public funds. Lack of patient registries and adequate at the time of treatment and payment information system, covering the number of patients with specific diagnoses and treatment regimens also a factor influencing the increase of costs and the lack of real agreements between pharma companies and NHIF to reduce prices of drugs.

Keywords: Public funds, costs, cancer diseases, anticancer medicines.