A Health Economic Study on the Expenditure on Anaesthesia Drugs and Consumables for Major Oncosurgeries at a Tertiary Cancer Care Centre in North India

The increasing costs of healthcare services pose a significant challenge for both patients and healthcare systems worldwide. Major oncosurgeries, particularly in tertiary care cancer centers, are complex procedures that involve multidisciplinary teams, advanced technologies, and specialized care.Alongside the surgical intervention itself, anesthesia services play a critical role in ensuring patient safety, comfort, and optimal surgical outcomes. However, anesthesia-related expenditure has been recognized as a substantial component of the overall healthcare costs associated with these procedures.

Understanding and analyzing the financial implications of anesthesia services in major oncosurgeries can provide valuable insights for healthcare providers, policymakers, and patients alike. It allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the costs associated with anesthesia techniques, surgical procedures, patient characteristics, and other factors that may influence expenditure. Such insights can contribute to the development of cost-effective strategies, resource allocation optimization, and informed decision-making to enhance the delivery of healthcare services.

This retrospective study aims to assess the anesthesia drugs and consumables related expenditure incurred by patients who underwent major oncosurgery at Tata Memorial Centre (MPMMCC) Varanasi. By examining the data collected over a six-month period, we seek to measure the pattern of expenditure on anesthesia drugs and consumables for major oncosurgeries.  Through a comprehensive analysis of various variables, including patient ASA physical status, surgical disease management group  (DMG), surgical procedure, anesthesia technique, duration of surgery (OT in-out time), patient category (general/private), occupation, yearly income, urgency of surgery, nature of surgery (primary/reoperation), total anesthesia billing, and expenditure breakdown, we aim to gain valuable insights into the expenditure on anesthesia drugs and consumables for  major oncosurgeries. Major oncosurgeries, also known as oncologic surgeries, are surgical procedures performed to diagnose, treat, or remove cancerous tumors or lesions from the body. These surgeries are characterized by their complexity and the significant removal of cancerous tissue or affected organs. The primary goal is to eliminate or reduce the cancer’s presence while preserving as much healthy tissue and function as possible. Major oncosurgeries may involve removing tumors, lymph nodes, or nearby tissues that are affected by cancer.

This health economic study seeks to bridge the gap in knowledge regarding anesthesia-related expenditure for major oncosurgeries in tertiary care cancer center. By unraveling the financial implications, we aim to contribute to the body of evidence necessary for informed decision-making, policy development, and resource allocation in the field of anesthesia services, with the overarching goal of improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.