MUMBAI: The number of women under treatment for breast cancer in India is projected to increase by 50,000 every year this decade, with the economic burden expected to average $19.55 billion annually, according to a new study published in the Nature journal.
The research titled ‘Economic Burden of Breast Cancer in India, 2000–2021 and Forecast to 2030′ analyses data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database to estimate annual prevalence and applies a statistical model (ARIMA) to forecast future trends, adjusting for past patterns and fluctuations.
A bottom-up approach was used to calculate the direct costs of breast cancer, including hospital visits, treatment and follow-up care. It draws on a study by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) in Mumbai, which tracked 500 breast cancer patients over 34 months at Tata Memorial Centre. The findings reveal that a large majority of breast cancer patients in India face catastrophic health expenditure, with rural, poor, and agricultural households bearing the brunt of the financial strain.
“We haven’t taken into account the depreciating currency value and the costs at private healthcare setups. We also looked at treatment costs till 2021 due to limited data. So, the economic burden we are citing is an underestimation,” said Dr Denny John, professor of public health, M S Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, who led the study’s methodology and supervision. The study does not account for varying costs at different stages of breast cancer. Kashaf Shaikh (34) diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2019, recalled spending Rs 18 lakh at private hospitals for diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and other expenses, which she was able to cover with family support.
Dr Vani Parmar, Chief of Breast Surgical Oncology at Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Head and Neck Cancer Institute, formerly at Tata Memorial Hospital, stated, “Costs are multifactorial and significantly impact daily incomes, especially for younger working women. While medical advances improve outcomes, they come with high costs. Financial assistance is available; at TMH, drugs are heavily subsidised, and we also offer discounts at our hospital. Unfortunately, all corporate hospitals may not be able to offer such subsidies.”
Dr John argues the paper’s purpose is to highlight the current economic impact on India’s GDP, urging policymakers to invest in health infrastructure to support citizens. “Women are a significant part of our workforce. This is a warning sign for Indian corporates to provide more supportive policies for their employees,” Dr John said.
