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Today's Close-Up
One out of every two Japanese is said to develop cancer. While the introduction of new drugs has helped increase survival rates, treatments have become more prolonged and expensive, giving birth to the issue of "economic toxicity." Many patients are driven into a corner, both financially and emotionally, by the burden of medical costs in addition to other life expenses. Meanwhile, public insurance, which is intended to support treatment, is becoming increasingly difficult to provide due to the higher costs of treatment. Eighty percent of all health insurance societies are in the red. We look into what is needed to ease the financial burden on cancer patients and their families.<br><br>Guests:<br>Sakurai Naomi (Director, Japan Federation of Cancer Patient Groups)<br>Takaku Reo (Professor, Hitotsubashi University)
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One out of every two Japanese is said to develop cancer. While the introduction of new drugs has helped increase survival rates, treatments have become more prolonged and expensive, giving birth to the issue of "economic toxicity." Many patients are driven into a corner, both financially and emotionally, by the burden of medical costs in addition to other life expenses. Meanwhile, public insurance, which is intended to support treatment, is becoming increasingly difficult to provide due to the higher costs of treatment. Eighty percent of all health insurance societies are in the red. We look into what is needed to ease the financial burden on cancer patients and their families.<br><br>Guests:<br>Sakurai Naomi (Director, Japan Federation of Cancer Patient Groups)<br>Takaku Reo (Professor, Hitotsubashi University)