EVALUATION OF HEALTH CARE REFORM IMPACT ON CANCER PATIENTS` ACCESS TO MEDICINE- A PILOT-CENTER EXPERIENCE IN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Author(s)
Mansoori M1, Zaboli P2, Saeedi M1, Janbabai G1, Nikfar S2, Rohani E3, Zartab S2
1Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran (Islamic Republic of), 2Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran, Iran (Islamic Republic of), 3Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Islamic Republic of)
OBJECTIVES: In Islamic Republic of Iran, due to increasing incidence of cancer and its high treatment costs, health sector policy makers tried to design a supportive healthcare plan. Therefore, Iran`s Healthcare reform plan has been executed since May, 2014. One of the most important objectives of this reform is equity establishment in access to health care services and financial support of incurable patients. Although chemotherapy medications are pretty expensive, no proper insurance coverage is available. This study aims to evaluate performance of healthcare reform in one of the pilot referral centers which is Imam Khomeini governmental hospital, Sari, Mazandaran in comparison to Tooba chemotherapy clinic. METHODS: In this cross-sectional research, all colorectal, gastric and breast cancer patients who were admitted between to oncology department of Imam Khomeini hospital (inpatient and outpatient) and Tooba chemotherapy clinic (outpatient), between May 1st 2015 and July 30th 2015 were enrolled to study. Final sample size was 120 patients. Statistical analysis was performed by” Instant V12.NET” software. In all cases, the value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS:: There was a significant difference in terms of access to health care services (p = 0.0205) and health insurance (p<0.000) after healthcare reform among these three medical centers. Although significant difference in access to medicine between these three healthcare centers (p<0.0001), there was not any difference in drug access among outpatient and inpatient oncology department of Imam Khomeini Hospital (p=0.2182). CONCLUSIONS:: Iran `s healthcare reform was beneficial in improving health levels and increasing equity in access to chemotherapy drugs. On the other hand, geographic access, patient refers reduction and insurance coverage require more attention.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2017-09, ISPOR Latin America 2017, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Value in Health, Vol. 20, No. 9 (October 2017)
Code
PCN51
Topic
Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Health Disparities & Equity
Disease
Oncology