The Socioeconomic Impact of Cervical Cancer in the UK
By Staff Writer
March 7, 2024
Introduction
The socioeconomic impact of cervical cancer in the UK is a significant concern and the fourth most common cancer type globally among women. This article, based on a report from the Office of Health Economics (OHE), quantifies that burden and the potential savings from reaching the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) elimination target set in 2020. Currently the disease burden in the UK is more than twice the WHO target of less than 4 cases per 100,000 women.
The Cost of Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer carries an estimated lifetime cost of £208,086 per case in the UK. This value includes direct healthcare expenses, individual patient costs, and broader societal costs (Figure 3) due to morbidity and mortality. The strain primarily falls on society and families, accounting for 85% of the total burden, with the healthcare system bearing just 8%. The primary factor influencing the overall cost throughout an individual person’s lifetime is the reduction in productivity (Figure 1), amounting to £130,984. This accounts for 63% of the individual burden and is mostly caused by the economic impact of mortality due to cervical cancer.
Figure 1. Lifetime socioeconomic cost per newly diagnosed patient
OOP= Out of pocket
The Socioeconomic Impact of Cervical Cancer in the UK
The total socioeconomic burden of new cervical cancer cases in the UK, at the current incidence rate of 9.7 cases per 100,000, is approximately £691 million. To put this into perspective, this burden equates to about 40% of the UK’s combined spending on immunisation and early detection programmes pre-COVID-19 (£1.7 billion in 2019) or about 8% of the total UK pre-COVID-19 spending on preventative care (£8.3 billion in 2019).
The Potential Savings
If the WHO elimination target were achieved today, there would be an instant 59% reduction in the socioeconomic burden, equivalent to about £406 million. The UK could save around £2.6 billion (Figure 2) compared to taking no action on cervical cancer elimination by achieving the WHO elimination threshold by 2046. This means that the socioeconomic burden of cervical cancer is preventable. However, these savings do not consider the cost required to achieve elimination, such as spending on prevention and control measures like vaccination and screening.
Figure 2. Achieving the WHO elimination target in the UK by 2046 could save £2.6 billion
The Path to Elimination
Achieving elimination requires a comprehensive action plan from the National Health Service (NHS) to overcome barriers to access, education, and awareness while maintaining adequate funding and resources. NHS England’s recent commitment to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 provides the impetus to improve vaccination and screening coverage and implement a clear strategy to accelerate elimination.
Figure 3. Framework of cervical cancer socioeconomic burden
* Productivity loss quantifications already include tax returns due to workplace absenteeism.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the socioeconomic burden of cervical cancer in the UK, emphasises the urgency for effective intervention strategies to achieve the WHO elimination target by 2046, compared to taking no action. However, these savings must be weighed against the costs of implementing such strategies, including vaccination and screening programs. Therefore, it is crucial for health economists and policymakers to conduct further cost-effectiveness analyses to determine the optimal allocation of resources.
🧠What if addressing just a few key lifestyle factors could significantly reduce the risk of stroke, dementia, and depression in older adults?
A recent systematic review has identified 17 **modifiable risk factors**, revealing the interconnected nature of these age-related brain diseases and offering crucial insights for preventive strategies. By focusing on aspects such as blood pressure management, nutrition, and physical activity, we can enhance quality of life for our aging population.
Dive into the article to explore how these findings could shape future healthcare models.
💊 Curious about the future of drug pricing in the U.S.?
The recent executive order aims to tackle escalating prescription drug costs through measures like international reference pricing and enhanced transparency. However, the implications of these policies could be more complex than anticipated, with potential risks to market access and innovation.
Dive into the article for a detailed analysis of how these regulations could shape the pharmaceutical landscape and what it means for healthcare access in the U.S.
🤔 Are AI solutions ready to revolutionize pediatric patient education?
A recent study compared ChatGPT and Gemini in generating educational materials for common pediatric conditions, revealing intriguing insights into content depth, readability, and reliability. While both tools have their merits, there’s significant room for improvement in making AI-generated content accessible and effective for all families.
Curious to learn more about the implications for health literacy and the future of AI in healthcare? Click to read the full article!
When you partner with Syenza, it’s like a Nuclear Fusion.
Our expertise are combined with yours, and we contribute clinical expertise and advanced degrees in
health policy, health economics, systems analysis, public finance, business, and project management.
You’ll also feel our high-impact global and local perspectives with cultural intelligence.
