Eline Noels, Loes Hollestein, Kees Luijkx, Marieke Louwman, Carin de Uyl-de Groot, Renate van den Bos, Astrid van der Veldt, Dirk Grünhagen, Marlies Wakkee
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3463

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and its incidence is increasing. The objective of this study was to describe the trends in reimbursed drug and hospital costs of benign and (pre)malignant skin tumours, and to present future projections. Therefore, nationwide hospital and drug reimbursement data (for the period 2007–17) were used. In 2017, malignant skin tumours were the 4th most costly cancer in the Netherlands (after breast, colorectal, and lung cancer). The total costs for skin tumours increased from €278 million for 384,390 patients (in 2007) to €465 million for 578,355 patients (in 2017). Drug costs increased from €0.7 million to €121 million (over the period 2007–17), resulting in a 26% share of overall costs in 2017. Future costs are projected to reach €1.35 billion in 2030. In conclusion, the increasing costs of skin cancer are strongly affected by the increasing incidence and introduction of expensive drugs, and future projections are for an alarming increase.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. Nationwide claims data were obtained for the period 2007–2017 in order to assess the associated healthcare costs. Malignant skin tumours were the 4th most costly cancer in the Netherlands in 2017, after breast, colorectal, and lung cancer. The total costs for skin tumours increased from €278 million for 384,390 patients (in 2007) to €465 million for 578,355 patients (in 2017). Drug costs increased from €0.7 million to €121 million (over the period 2007–17), resulting in a 26% share of overall costs in 2017. Future costs are projected to reach €1.35 billion in 2030. In conclusion, the increasing costs of skin cancer are strongly affected by the increasing incidence and introduction of expensive drugs, and future projections show an alarming increase.

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