Economic aspects of multiple myeloma: real costs associated with disease in the Slovak Republic.

Health care costs are continuously increasing. Multiple myeloma represents approximately 1% of all malignancies and the 5-year prevalence is 230,000 patients on average. In addition, there is an annual incidence of 3.8/100,000 in Slovakia. In total economic burden assessment, it is important to focus not only on direct but also on indirect costs, including the lost productivity due to premature death. Based on the data and information obtained from the key stakeholders the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor, the Social Insurance Agency, and NCZI, we provided the assessment of direct and indirect costs. The total cost of the disease for the model patient represents €409,071 from the diagnosis of MM to death. The major cost burden is associated with the treatment, €155,645 followed by the costs of productivity loss due to premature death, €127,611. Cost-of-illness studies provide an important view on the total burden of the disease in specific areas and are necessary for an adequate decision-making process from the regulatory and reimbursement perspective.