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Indirect costs of cervical and breast cancers in Spain

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Abstract

This study estimated the indirect costs (productivity loss) caused by mortality and morbidity of cervical and breast cancers in Spain. We used two alternative methods: (a) the traditional human capital (HC) approach and (b) the friction cost (FC) method. The annual costs were €43.4 and 288.7 for cervical and breast cancer, respectively, by the HC approach and €1.1 and 11.6 million by the FC approach. Cost-of-illness studies help to illustrate the real dimension of health problems and should be a major concern for health policies. Indirect costs are relevant information about diseases. However, the estimated indirect costs depend heavily on the approach adopted.

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Acknowledgements

We thank: A. Blanco and T. Morales (Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs); M.D. López-Abente G. (Carlos III Institute); M.D. Carbajo-Sotillo, A. García-González, J.A. Martínez-Herrera, M. Parrilla-Martín, and M.R. Valero-Muñoz (Social Security Institute); M.L. Muñiz and M.D. Sebastián (Health Department, Region of Madrid), Obdulia Juan Alcaráz (Competitive Techniques), and Natalia Jorgensen (Carlos III University). We are also thankful for the useful comments of Antonio Romero-Medina and Matilde P. Machado (Carlos III University) and those of three anonymous referees. This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs

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Author notes

  1. Juan Oliva

    Present address: Seminario de Estudios Sociales de la Salud y Los Medicamentos, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, C/Madrid 126, 28903, Getafe, Madrid, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics and Seminar of Social Studies on Health and Medicines, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain

    Juan Oliva, Félix Lobo & Néboa Zozaya

  2. Canary Islands Health Service, Spain

    Julio López-Bastida

  3. Regional Health Department, Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Rosa Romay

Authors
  1. Juan Oliva
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  2. Félix Lobo
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  3. Julio López-Bastida
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  4. Néboa Zozaya
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  5. Rosa Romay
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Correspondence to Juan Oliva.

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Oliva, J., Lobo, F., López-Bastida, J. et al. Indirect costs of cervical and breast cancers in Spain. Eur J Health Econ 6, 309–313 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-005-0303-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-005-0303-4

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