Abstract
Skin cancer costs have increased dramatically over the last decade and the burden on the health care system is the highest out of all cancers in Australia. The economic impact of melanoma is felt on all levels of society and is not only reflected by direct healthcare costs but also indirect costs to individuals, their families, carers and society overall. Different types of costs play a role depending on the perspective adopted, such as patient out-of-pocket costs, productivity losses and carer time. But also, non-financial costs which are often measured as a reduction in quality or quantity of life.
This session will assess the latest economic evidence related to melanoma and its costs in a broader context. Recent results from Dr Merollini’s large population data linkage project of all cancers diagnosed in Queensland over 20 years will be discussed, in particular relating to health service costs of melanoma by age, gender, type of health service and time since diagnosis. We will also explore the cases of early detection versus primary prevention and the merits of ever-increasing treatment spending. Should the status quo remain or are there better ways forward?