Avoided costs to the Colombian health system due to the implementation of externally funded oncology clinical trials

Abstract

Introduction. Spending on drugs to treat cancer will increase by 9-12% annually until 2025. For health systems in high middle-income countries such as Colombia and with an increasing trend of new cancer cases, clinical research can contribute to the efficient use of the resources available to the system without undermining the timeliness and quality of care.
Objective. Calculate the savings generated to the Colombian Health System due to the implementation of externally funded clinical trials for cancer.
Materials and methods. Observational, longitudinal, descriptive and retrospective study, based on the analysis of the medical records of participants in clinical studies conducted between 2016 and 2022 at the IMAT Oncomedica Auna Clinic, Colombia.
Results. The total avoided cost to the health system for external financing of oncology drugs was USD$1,526,320 and the monthly weighted average avoided cost per patient (WACC) was USD$3,257. The participation of breast cancer patients in ECAS (n=138) accounted for 24% (USD$369,363) of the total avoided costs. Participants with clinical stage IV and III disease accounted for 41.7% (USD$636,475) and 31.06% (USD$473,159), respectively, of the total savings to the SGSSS from external financing of oncological drugs.
Conclusion. The participation of cancer patients in clinical trials avoided costs to the Colombian health system, especially in women with breast cancer and in those patients with clinical stage IV of the disease.