Analysis of the accessibility of cancer patients to drug provision at the outpatient stage of treatment in the Russian Federation

Introduction. The outpatient stage of management of patients with malignant neoplasms does not have additional funding. Availability of patients to prescribed drugs on outpatient review of funds allocated by the Russian Federation for the purchase of drugs based upon budgets providing for benefits. In connection with the study of the problem of procurement of drugs for the treatment of patients with malignant neoplasms in outpatient treatment, an urgent task arises, the solution of which is the essence of the development of a study on the planning of drug treatment of patients.

Purpose is to study the accessibility of patients with malignant neoplasms to drug provision at the outpatient stage of treatment in the Federal Districts of the Russian Federation.

Material and methods. To study the availability of patients with malignant neoplasms, the supply of medicines for the treatment of patients with malignant neoplasms in 2019 and 2020 to hospitals purchased at the expense of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the federal budget in the Federal Districts was analyzed. We compared the funds spent between the subjects of the Russian Federation in terms of patients with a first diagnosis. To compare the provision of patients with drugs, we recalculated the amount of funds spent on the purchase of drugs per patient with a newly diagnosed oncological disease living in the Federal District.

Results. Significant differences were found in the provision between the Federal Districts, reaching almost four times the size.

Limitations. When studying the accessibility of patients with malignant neoplasms to drug provision at the outpatient stage of treatment, purchases of all Federal Districts of the Russian Federation at the expense of both the subjects of the Russian Federation and the federal budget were analyzed, which is a sufficient reference sample.

Conclusion. A significant difference in the amount allocated per patient both from the funds of the regional and federal budgets, with the newly diagnosed malignant neoplasm in the Federal Districts creates unequal conditions for treating patients on an outpatient basis.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of the opinion of the biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Acknowledgment. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The author declares no conflict of interest. 

Received: April 21, 2022
Accepted: June 30, 2022
Published: April 28, 2023