The cost of home care for patients with malignant neoplasms.

A microeconomic study evaluated the health sector cost of home care in Greece for patients with malignant neoplasms. A cost-identification analysis was performed from the home care service's perspective. According to the results of the study, the cost varies among the main categories of malignant neoplasms because of a fluctuation in the cost of drugs, whereas the main cost-driver factor is the cost of laboratory tests. In comparison with the corresponding cost of in-hospital care, the cost of home care for patients with malignant neoplasms is significantly lower, which also is confirmed by the results of other international studies.